Sangli, Correspondent
The Central Government has provided major relief to domestic LPG consumers in rural areas by reducing the refill booking interval from 45 days to 25 days. With the revised rule, all domestic LPG consumers, both in urban and rural areas, will be allowed to book a refill after 25 days. The decision has been taken by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and oil marketing companies have been directed to implement it with immediate effect, Sangli District Collector Mainak Ghosh said.
The 45-day booking interval for rural consumers was introduced in February 2026 as a temporary demand-management measure amid concerns over LPG availability and demand following the conflict in the Middle East. At that time, the refill booking interval was fixed at 25 days for urban consumers and 45 days for those in rural areas.
However, the Ministry has now reviewed the situation in view of the improvement in LPG supplies and a considerable reduction in the refill backlog. Consequently, the Government has decided to prescribe a uniform 25-day inter-refill booking gap for all domestic LPG consumers, including those in rural areas.
Collector Mainak Ghosh, while sharing details of the Centre's decision, said the revision would particularly benefit rural LPG consumers. The new rule will also apply to domestic consumers in rural areas of Sangli district.
Direct Benefit to Rural Consumers
The decision is expected to benefit families in rural areas that rely heavily on LPG for cooking. Under the earlier 45-day rule, consumers had to wait longer to book their next refill after exhausting a cylinder. The revised rule will reduce the waiting period by 20 days, allowing consumers to book their next refill after 25 days.
The uniform rule will also eliminate the difference in refill booking intervals between urban and rural consumers. Families with relatively higher LPG consumption are expected to benefit particularly from the change.
Supply Situation Improves
According to the Ministry's communication, the decision has been taken considering the present LPG supply position and the significant reduction in refill backlogs. As a result, the separate 45-day booking condition for rural consumers will no longer apply.
Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation have been directed to implement the revised 25-day refill booking interval uniformly across urban and rural areas. The revised arrangement will come into force with immediate effect.
20-Day Reduction in Waiting Period
For rural consumers, the change effectively means a 20-day reduction in the waiting period for booking the next LPG refill. Instead of waiting 45 days, consumers will now be eligible to book a refill after 25 days, bringing rural consumers on par with those in urban areas.
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