The Centre has offered states and Union territories an additional 10 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to incentivise reforms aimed at accelerating the transition from LPG to piped natural gas (PNG), even as it asserted that fuel supplies remain stable and Indian seafarers are safe amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.The move, conveyed through a letter dated March 18, is linked to steps such as faster approvals for city gas distribution (CGD) networks, deemed permissions for pending applications, rollout of “dig and restore” policies and reduction in levies, aimed at easing PNG adoption across domestic and commercial segments.At a high-level briefing, officials said there is no shortage of fuel in the country, with refineries operating at near full capacity and adequate stocks of petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel available without any price increase.Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Petroleum Ministry, said commercial LPG distribution has gained momentum, with nearly 15 states and Union territories issuing allocation orders. “About 7,200 tonnes of commercial LPG, including bulk and auto LPG, has already been lifted across the country in the last four days,” she said.The government has also partially restored the sale of commercial LPG cylinders, which had earlier been curtailed to prioritise domestic supply, indicating easing supply pressures.Officials stressed that there have been no fuel dry-outs at retail outlets and cautioned citizens against panic buying. More than 2,300 surprise inspections have been carried out to curb hoarding and black marketing, while domestic LPG production has been ramped up by around 40 per cent. Online booking has improved to 93 per cent, though long queues persist in some areas.In parallel, authorities highlighted the resilience of India’s maritime operations, with all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region reported safe and no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels in the past 24 hours.As many as 22 Indian-flagged ships with 611 crew members remain operational in the western Persian Gulf, under continuous monitoring by the Directorate General of Shipping in coordination with ship owners and Indian missions. LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi are continuing cargo discharge operations as scheduled.The DG Shipping control room, functioning round-the-clock, has handled over 3,300 calls and 6,300 emails since activation, while facilitating the repatriation of more than 472 Indian seafarers so far, including 25 in the last 24 hours.Port operations across India remain normal, with no congestion reported. At Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, the number of stranded containers has declined further, and additional storage capacity has been created at key ports such as Visakhapatnam.On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, exchanging views on the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia and underscoring the need for sustained diplomatic engagement to ensure regional stability.During the conversation, Modi conveyed greetings on the upcoming festival of Eid and expressed concern over recent developments in the region.He reiterated India’s strong condemnation of attacks on Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while stressing that ensuring safe and uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a key priority.Both leaders agreed that dialogue and diplomacy were essential to de-escalate tensions and restore peace. The Prime Minister also thanked the Kuwaiti leadership for its continued support towards the safety and welfare of the Indian community in Kuwait.This is the second such interaction between the two leaders this month. On March 3, Modi had conveyed India’s solidarity with Kuwait and emphasised the importance of diplomatic channels in addressing the crisis.The Ministry of External Affairs said it continues to prioritise the safety of Indian nationals across the region, with missions operating round-the-clock. Indian students in Iran have been relocated to safer areas, and assistance is being extended for movement through land borders into Armenia and Azerbaijan.Nearly 2.6 lakh passengers have returned to India from the region since late February, as flight operations gradually stabilise despite airspace restrictions in parts of the Gulf. Connectivity from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman is improving, while alternative transit routes are being facilitated for destinations such as Kuwait.Officials said coordinated efforts are underway to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies, maritime safety and the wellbeing of Indian nationals, even as the situation in West Asia continues to evolve.