New Delhi: The Centre has relaxed restrictions on domestic LPG refill bookings, reducing the mandatory interval for consumers in rural areas from 45 days to 25 days amid an improvement in LPG supply and a significant decline in refill backlogs.

The revised rule will now apply uniformly to domestic LPG consumers across urban and rural areas, allowing them to book a fresh LPG cylinder once every 25 days.

The relaxation came into effect from Monday, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas directing public sector oil marketing companies, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), to implement the revised booking interval with immediate effect.

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi announced the decision on Facebook.

The ministry, in its communication to the three oil companies, said the decision was taken in view of the “present LPG supply position” and the “considerable reduction in refill backlogs” compared with the situation when the demand-management measures were introduced.

The order stated that the government had decided to prescribe an “inter-refill booking gap of 25 days uniformly for all Domestic LPG consumers, including those in rural areas.”

The ministry also directed the oil marketing companies to implement the “revised inter-refill booking interval of 25 days uniformly across urban and rural areas, with immediate effect.”

Earlier, LPG refill bookings were subject to a 25-day interval in urban areas and 45 days in rural areas. The restrictions were introduced as a temporary demand-management measure following the escalation of the conflict in West Asia and concerns over its impact on global energy markets.

The government had said the restrictions were aimed at preventing consumers from booking and storing additional cylinders and ensuring equitable distribution of LPG supplies. It had also maintained that there was no LPG shortage in the country.