A major reason for the decline in the consumption of kerosene was an increase in the number of LPG consumers in rural India after the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. in 2016.

A shortfall in LPG supply from Aramco has led to huge booking backlog across states. To meet the backlog, India has asked Abu Dhabi National Oil Company for two additional cargos of LPG, but that may take another 10 days to reach.

Majority of PLL's long-term deals are linked to crude, which faces price challenge from other fuels. Spot LNG is moving away from this linkage, which puts a question mark on crude linked contracts.

On Tuesday, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Russian oil giant Rosneft's chief executive officer Igor Sechin and discussed raising crude imports from that country, in addition to talks about going for more acquisitions.

Robots are now being used increasingly in the integrated-shell assembly line and robotic bogie-fabrication line. The unit may soon see its phase-II expansion, which will increase its capacity to 2,000 coaches.

On these routes, the train speed would also be increased to above 160 kmph over the next four or five years by revamping the entire signaling, tracks and fencing.

Railways is testing waters for locomotives to run on lithium-ion batteries, the most common ones used in electric vehicles.

Experts say local demand, government policies in retail and refining sector are attracting foreign players.

The fuel delivery scheme mainly targets consumers that buy in bulk.

Of the 272-km Udhampur-Baramulla rail line, nearly 111-km stretch between Katra and Banihal is incomplete.

Though bids for 43 Train 18 sets were invited first, orders for only three were given, including one for Spanish major CAF and Medha Group that supplied for the first Vande Bharat train.

There was a plan to increase the Railways' revenue by augmenting carrying capacity. This target has, however, become the source of a bitter battle between two ministries - the railways and steel - and provoked serious arguments over the "Make in India" programme.

'Are all roads in India privatised? Are governments not playing a role in airports or ports? If they (private players) want to set up lines for a specific requirement, I see no reason to object. It will expand the opportunity and passengers will also benefit.'

If the reforms are implemented, multi-brand retail majors such as Future Group and Reliance Retail might enter the fuel retail space.

The Ratlam division of the national transporter is planning to provide head and foot massages to passengers in 39 trains originating from Indore railway

One of the major challenges before the government is that the annual average refill by a PMUY consumer is 3.28 cylinders compared to seven for others.

L&T, Ircon International and Tata Projects have showed interest in a tender issued by the National High Speed Rail Corporation, implementing agency for the project. The tender is for construction of stations, bridges, viaducts, maintenance depots and tunnels.

A change in electrification criterion in April 2017, with retrospective effect, helped the government add "already electrified 3,090 rkm" to its credit.

'The Congress's arrogance and unrealistic claims have weakened the anti-BJP movement at the national level.'

The company management remained tight-lipped about the resignations, but indicated there was nothing unusual in these movements.