Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 21 November 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has raised severe considerations over the acute scarcity and irregular provide of important fuels throughout the islands. In a gathering with officers of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) from the Kolkata Regional Office, at the moment visiting Sri Vijaya Puram, he known as for rapid corrective measures to make sure uninterrupted provide of petrol, diesel and LPG (each home and business).
The MP stated that the persistent gasoline disaster has adversely impacted customers, PRI representatives, tourism operators, lodges, business sectors and notably residents of distant islands. He acknowledged that the present provide chain mechanism has didn’t function effectively, leading to delays and uncertainty in inter-island gasoline distribution, particularly within the Nicobar group and North & Middle Andaman.
During the discussions, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray identified a number of essential gaps. He stated Swaraj Dweep requires a devoted cargo boat for LPG transportation and a ten,000-cylinder storage facility to satisfy the excessive home and tourism-related demand. He additionally highlighted that over 230 LPG customers in Long Island lack an authorised distribution channel and are compelled to journey to Rangat for refills, dropping as much as two days within the course of. Calling for doorstep or native supply preparations, he additional urged IOCL to arrange a petroleum and diesel outlet within the space on the earliest.
He reiterated long-pending calls for for establishing a gasoline outlet alongside the Betapur–Basantipur stretch, which continues to stay unserved. For North & Middle Andaman, he proposed creation of a central LPG storage godown at Mayabunder and extra depots between Baratang and Diglipur, together with Kadamtala, together with assured provide to Baratang — a serious vacationer vacation spot.
In Diglipur, the place a lone LPG distributor caters to 14 panchayats, the MP demanded extra distributors to make sure well timed supply. He additionally raised considerations over restricted operational hours of the ANIIDCO gasoline outlet at Keralapuram and requested that one other gasoline station be established between Kalara Junction and Diglipur.
Highlighting difficulties in Little Andaman, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray stated that irregular ship schedules have disrupted gasoline availability for greater than 6,500 LPG customers, whereas business LPG provide stays insufficient for tourism and hospitality items. He urged IOCL to extend fuel-carrying ship journeys, keep a reserve inventory of no less than 6,000 cylinders month-to-month, and rectify quick provides of petrol and diesel.
Expressing grave concern for tribal islands together with Car Nicobar, Chowra, Teressa, Katchal and Nancowry, the MP acknowledged that petrol and diesel usually arrive solely after 4–6 months and LPG after practically 5 months. Residents obtain solely 2–3 cylinders yearly towards their entitlement of 12, resulting in lengthy queues at provide centres. He additionally pointed to disputes between distributors and transport companies, which additional worsen the disaster.
Calling the state of affairs unacceptable, the MP urged IOCL officers to take the next actions on precedence:
- Strengthen and streamline gasoline provide chain logistics
- Establish new LPG storage services and gasoline retailers in recognized areas
- Increase cargo vessel frequency for petroleum product transportation
- Resolve distribution bottlenecks in coordination with A&N Administration
- Publish a clear and glued provide schedule for all islands
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray careworn that islanders are totally depending on imported gasoline, and provide disruptions severely have an effect on every day life and financial actions. He requested IOCL to deal with the matter as pressing and guarantee dependable supply of important fuels throughout the Union Territory.
