Commuters in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, rushed to petrol pumps this week after a nationwide fuel price hike triggered widespread panic buying.
The sudden surge in demand threatens to disrupt local transport and creates artificial shortages, complicating the city's traffic flow and public order.
Long queues formed at multiple stations across the city, including a Bharat Petroleum outlet in Rasulgarh [1]. The unrest followed a central government decision to increase petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre [2]. Reports indicate that these queues persisted for a fourth consecutive day as of Friday [3].
Public anxiety was heightened by rumors of an imminent fuel shortage. This combination of price increases and speculation led hundreds of vehicle owners, including bike riders, to queue for hours [1, 4]. Some reports alleged that bike riders were limited to fuel worth only Rs 200 [1].
State officials have moved to calm the public and stop the stockpiling. Krushna Chandra Patra, the State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, said the supply chains remain intact.
"There is no fuel shortage in Odisha," Patra said. "I urge the public not to rush to fuel stations or indulge in unnecessary stockpiling" [4].
Despite the minister's assurances, midnight queues continued at several locations across Odisha [2]. The situation highlights a volatility in consumer behavior when energy costs fluctuate rapidly, especially when coupled with unverified reports of scarcity.
“"There is no fuel shortage in Odisha," Patra said.”
This incident demonstrates how quickly market psychology can override official government assurances in India's energy sector. The gap between the reported fuel limits for two-wheelers and the minister's denial of a shortage suggests a breakdown in communication between pump operators and the state, which can exacerbate public panic during price volatility.
