Patna: Cooking gas supplies have come under strain in Bihar after oil companies temporarily halted the issuance of new LPG connections and double-bottle connections, citing rising demand and pressure on the distribution system.
According to distributors, the booking system has also stopped accepting orders from consumers who have already exceeded their annual quota of cylinders, a move that has triggered concern among households across the state.
Under the revised arrangement, consumers in urban areas will be allowed a maximum of 12 LPG cylinders per year, while those in rural areas will be limited to eight. Earlier, consumers could continue purchasing non-subsidised refills after the 12th cylinder, but distributors say the system now blocks bookings once the annual limit is reached.
The Bihar LPG Distributors Association said the decision was taken to ensure that existing consumers receive timely gas supplies and to prevent the distribution network from coming under severe pressure.
The restrictions also affect consumers relocating for work or other reasons. Oil companies have temporarily suspended interstate and inter-city LPG connection transfers, meaning customers moving to a different location will not be able to shift their existing connection for the time being.
Distributors say the priority is currently to supply refills to active customers rather than process new registrations or transfers.
Further changes have been introduced under the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Amendment Order, 2026 issued by the central government under the Essential Commodities Act. The order states that households with Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections will no longer be allowed to keep LPG cylinders and must surrender their existing connections.
Officials say the measure is intended to curb black marketing and ensure that LPG supplies reach households that rely on cylinders as their primary cooking fuel.
There are estimated to be about 1,00,000 PNG consumers in Bihar, including around 30,000 in Patna, who could be affected by the rule.
While domestic consumers face new restrictions, distributors said the sale of commercial LPG cylinders has resumed, offering some relief to hotels and restaurants that depend on them for daily operations.
