The government is not planning to shut petrol stations at night, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M. Veerappa Moily said Monday.
Moily said this in response to reports that the government would shut petrol pumps at night to curb demand of petroleum products in view of the sharp jump in crude oil prices in international markets and depreciation of the rupee.
"We have not taken any decision," said Moily.
The minister had said Sunday that the shutting down petrol pumps after 8 p.m. was one of the ideas coming from a section of the people.
"It is not our idea. It is an idea which is coming from public and others," Moily said.
In a separate statement, the ministry said there was no proposal under consideration of the government to regulate sale of petroleum products from the retail outlets only during certain hours.