YSRCP MP urges Centre to fix Andhra Pradesh fuel crisis; 70% stations shut
Synopsis
With nearly 70% of Andhra Pradesh's fuel stations shuttered and petrol being rationed by the litre, YSRCP MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy has written to the Centre alleging an 'artificially triggered crisis' — and pointing a finger squarely at the state government for colluding with hoarders while neighbouring states report no such shortfall.
Key Takeaways
Avinash Reddy wrote to Petroleum Secretary Neeraj Mittal on 28 April seeking urgent Centre intervention.
Nearly 70% of Andhra Pradesh's 4,510 fuel stations are reportedly non-operational.
Fuel is being rationed: cars limited to 10–15 litres of diesel; two-wheelers to petrol worth ₹200 .
Neighbouring states Tamil Nadu , Karnataka , and Maharashtra have reported no similar shortage.
Agriculture, aquaculture, and road transport sectors in Andhra Pradesh are significantly impacted.
YSRCP staged statewide protests; party leader Devineni Avinash pulled an auto-rickshaw in Vijayawada to demonstrate the crisis.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy from Kadapa has written to the Centre seeking urgent intervention in an ongoing shortage of petrol, diesel, and LPG across Andhra Pradesh, warning of widespread public distress and what he termed an 'artificially created scarcity.' The letter, addressed to Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, was sent on 28 April from Amaravati.
Scale of the Shortage
According to the MP's letter, nearly 70 per cent of Andhra Pradesh's 4,510 fuel stations are currently non-operational and displaying 'No Stock' boards. In several areas, fuel is reportedly being rationed — cars are being allocated just 10–15 litres of diesel, while two-wheelers are restricted to petrol worth ₹200. Avinash Reddy noted that no such deficits have been reported in neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
What the MP Told the Centre
Avinash Reddy highlighted a stark contradiction: the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had publicly stated that national petrol and diesel supplies remain adequate across all states, that retail prices at PSU oil marketing company (OMC) outlets are unchanged, and that domestic LPG, PNG, and CNG supply is being maintained at 100 per cent capacity. The MP questioned why, despite these assurances, Andhra Pradesh is experiencing a glaring mismatch between supply and demand. He also flagged concerns over 'unethical' LPG pricing being levied over the past few days.
Sectors Hit Hard
The fuel crunch has significantly impacted Andhra Pradesh's agriculture and aquaculture sectors, as well as road transport and last-mile delivery businesses, according to the letter. Avinash Reddy argued that the shortage has disrupted not just the state economy but everyday life — with the poor and marginalised bearing the heaviest burden. He alleged that some oil marketing companies are reducing supply even as commercial LPG cylinder prices rise, and accused elements within the system of rampant hoarding and black marketing.
YSRCP Alleges Government Collusion
Avinash Reddy stopped short of mincing words in his letter, stating:
Point of View
The breakdown is either a distribution failure or something more deliberate — and the MP's allegation of state-level collusion with hoarders deserves scrutiny, not dismissal. The fact that Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra are unaffected makes a supply-side explanation harder to sustain. The Chandrababu Naidu government will need to produce verifiable supply-chain data quickly, or the political cost of this crisis — falling hardest on farmers, aquaculture workers, and the rural poor — will compound rapidly.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fuel shortage crisis in Andhra Pradesh?
Andhra Pradesh is experiencing a widespread shortage of petrol, diesel, and LPG, with nearly 70% of the state's 4,510 fuel stations reportedly shut or displaying 'No Stock' boards as of 28 April 2025. Fuel is being rationed in several areas, with cars limited to 10–15 litres of diesel and two-wheelers to petrol worth ₹200.
Why has YSRCP MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy written to the Centre?
Avinash Reddy wrote to Petroleum Secretary Neeraj Mittal to flag the contradiction between the Centre's assurances of adequate national fuel supply and the ground reality in Andhra Pradesh. He has sought urgent intervention to address the shortage and investigate alleged hoarding and black marketing.
Which sectors have been affected by the Andhra Pradesh fuel crisis?
The agriculture and aquaculture sectors, road transport, and last-mile delivery businesses in Andhra Pradesh have been significantly disrupted. The MP noted that the poor and marginalised sections of society are bearing the heaviest impact.
How does Andhra Pradesh's fuel situation compare to neighbouring states?
According to the MP's letter, neighbouring states Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have reported no similar fuel shortages, making a national supply-side explanation difficult to sustain and strengthening allegations of a localised, artificially triggered crisis.
What protests has YSRCP staged over the fuel shortage?
YSRCP held statewide protests against the petrol and diesel shortage. Party leader Devineni Avinash staged a demonstration in Vijayawada by pulling an auto-rickshaw with a rope at a petrol pump on Nehru Road, calling the Chandrababu government incompetent.
