Why LPG prices are lower in Maharashtra but skyrocket in Manipur?

Rank	Region Name	Value (₹)
1	Maharashtra	912
2	Goa	912
3	Delhi	913
4	Gujarat	920
5	Haryana	916
6	Rajasthan	916
7	Madhya Pradesh	918
8	Chandigarh	863
9	Karnataka	916
10	Kerala	922
11	Tamil Nadu	929
12	Andhra Pradesh	930
13	Telangana	965
14	Punjab	964
15	Uttarakhand	941
16	Himachal Pradesh	958
17	Uttar Pradesh	950
18	Odisha	955
19	Jharkhand	970
20	West Bengal	985
21	Bihar	996
22	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	999
23	Chhattisgarh	950
24	Assam	970
25	Meghalaya	919
26	Arunachal Pradesh	978
27	Nagaland	980
28	Tripura	980
29	Sikkim	1065
30	Manipur	1066
31	Mizoram	1065
32	Jammu and Kashmir	950
33	Ladakh	958
34	Puducherry	929
35	Lakshadweep	1000
36	DNHDD	920

Western and northern core states lead the rankings due to their proximity to major refineries and bottling facilities, which helps reduce freight costs that oil marketing companies directly pass on to consumers.

Maharashtra and Goa are at the forefront with prices at ₹912, followed closely by Delhi at ₹913, while Gujarat, Haryana, and Rajasthan remain below ₹920.

These areas benefit from extensive pipeline networks and short-haul transport, which keep distribution costs low.

High-ranking regions sometimes trade off higher state VAT for the benefits of dense infrastructure, accepting manageable fiscal burdens in return for consistently low landed costs.

In contrast, northeastern states are at the bottom of the rankings, with Manipur at ₹1066, and Mizoram and Sikkim at ₹1065.

Their remote locations necessitate long-distance trucking across challenging terrain, leading to cost increases of 15-20% compared to their western counterparts.

Island territories experience similar issues: Andaman and Nicobar are around ₹999, while Lakshadweep approaches ₹1000. These regions are constrained by sea freight challenges and limited bottling capacity, resulting in persistently higher prices.

Bihar at ₹996 and West Bengal at ₹985 demonstrate how dense populations complicate last-mile delivery even in flat areas, exacerbating minor transport costs.

A surprising ranking has emerged in Meghalaya, with prices around ₹919, which is better than anticipated for the northeast.

Local bottling agreements and reduced state taxes help mitigate the effects of remoteness, but these benefits are tenuous and do not extend to neighboring states such as Manipur or Mizoram.

Regions with high rankings face a distinct trade-off: substantial investment in infrastructure secures low prices but links future affordability to the expansion of central refineries.

If global supply disruptions persist, these states may experience greater volatility due to their reliance on imports, despite their logistical advantages.

Conversely, lower-ranked regions struggle with ongoing structural challenges. Poor road connectivity and a lack of bottling facilities lead to persistent cost premiums that policy measures seldom fully alleviate.

If current trends continue, households in the northeast and on islands may face widening access disparities, potentially undoing the benefits of Ujjwala as rising refill costs diminish subsidy advantages.

Western and northern regions are likely to retain their leading positions unless there is a concerted effort to decentralize bottling infrastructure.