Bhubaneswar: A wave of petro fuel insecurity gripped several parts of Odisha on Thursday.

With few fuel stations having reportedly flagged no fuel supply or say limited fuel stock leading to rationing, cities panicked and people started flocking to fuel stations creating crowd and chaos, leading to traffic Jam.

Queue at a fuel station at Rasulgarh led to horrible traffic jam during the mid day Thursday.

As the thronging to fuels stations across Odisha and State Capital Bhubaneswar spread, the Utkal Petroleum Dealers Association quickly clarified that there is no shortfall, and the situation will be normal by evening.

Fuel Crunch Only In 3% Fuel Stations

​Sanjay Lath, General Secretary of the Utkal Petroleum Dealers Association, Thursday clarified that out of the 3,000 fuel stations dotting the landscape of Odisha, 100 were running on empty. While that represented a small fraction of the state’s infrastructure, the "dry out" at four key pumps in Bhubaneswar acted as a catalyst for chaos.

​The panic queuing before fuel stations was triggered by the word spread through WhatsApp groups and local news tickers, and the queues began to swell longer. This led to choking of some of the main arteries of the city.

​"I've been here for forty minutes," one biker shouted over the honking of horns. "They say there’s only enough for two liters per person. If I don't fill up now, how do I get to work tomorrow?"

​Petrol Consumption In State over 1250 TMT

​The shortage wasn't just a logistical hiccup; it was a collision between supply and an exploding demand. According to Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) data, Odisha’s appetite for fuel has reached unprecedented levels.

​The state's daily petrol consumption now fluctuates between 3,167 and 3,595 metric tonnes. To look at the broader picture is to see a state rapidly on the move:

·        Petrol Consumption in Odisha: 992 TMT in 20222-23

·        In 2023-24 – 1058TMT

·        In 2024-25 – 1156 TMT

·        2025-26 – 1250-80 TMT.

·        During the last 3 years, the petrol consumption in the State has clocked at an average of 11 percent.

The Bottomline

Odisha is consuming more petrol than ever before, a sign booming vehicle sales due to rising per capita income. Yet for the hundreds stuck in the heat of Bhubaneswar noon, the macro statistics matter little. They weren’t thinking about the double-digit growth in petrol consumption in the State, they were just watching the needle on their fuel gauges, hoping the person in front of them wouldn’t take the last drop.

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