Joint Collector Assures Adequate Fuel Stocks, Urges No Panic Buying

The district administration has assured residents that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel in Visakhapatnam and urged people not to resort to panic buying.

Responding to concerns over fuel availability in some areas, Joint Collector G. Vidyadhari said all steps were being taken to ensure uninterrupted supply across the district.

According to official data, 120 petrol bunks and 118 diesel outlets are currently functioning. Stocks available in the district were placed at 2,478 kilolitres of petrol and 2,801 kilolitres of diesel.

Company-wise closing stocks showed HPCL holding 830 kilolitres of petrol and 685 kilolitres of diesel, BPCL with 593 kilolitres of petrol and 848 kilolitres of diesel, and IOCL with 471 kilolitres of petrol and 476 kilolitres of diesel.

The overall closing stock in the district stood at 1,894 kilolitres of petrol and 2,009 kilolitres of diesel.

Ms Vidyadhari said district-level control rooms had been set up to monitor supplies and the functioning of fuel stations. Revenue and police teams were being deployed at petrol bunks wherever required.

She warned that strict action would be taken against black marketing, illegal hoarding, and diversion of fuel.

The Joint Collector said the administration was in regular touch with oil marketing companies and continuously reviewing the stock position. The companies had assured that supplies would be stepped up and the situation would return to normal soon.

She appealed to the public to stay calm, cooperate with officials, and avoid purchasing fuel beyond their immediate needs.