IndianOil One tops India’s app charts, overtakes ChatGPT amid surge in LPG refill bookings

The IndianOil One app has surged to the top of India’s download charts, overtaking popular platforms such as ChatGPT on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The sharp rise in downloads comes as millions of households across the country rush to book cooking gas refills amid growing concerns about supply disruptions.

Developed by Indian Oil Corporation, the application allows users to manage multiple fuel-related services through a single digital platform. Consumers can book LPG refills, track delivery status, apply for new gas connections, change distributors and locate nearby petrol pumps or LPG agencies directly through the app.

The spike in downloads coincides with rising anxiety about global energy supply following escalating tensions in West Asia and uncertainty surrounding shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. These developments triggered a wave of precautionary bookings by households seeking to secure their cooking gas supplies.

Government data reflects the sudden surge in demand. Average LPG bookings in India typically stand at around 55.7 lakh cylinders per day during the current financial year. However, on March 12 alone, bookings jumped by more than 35 percent to approximately 75.7 lakh cylinders, indicating a sharp increase in consumer demand.

India currently has more than 33.4 crore LPG connections, making liquefied petroleum gas the primary cooking fuel for households nationwide. In comparison, piped natural gas is available to only about 1.5 crore households, further reinforcing the country’s heavy reliance on LPG cylinders.

At the same time, cooking gas prices have also increased earlier this month, with the cost of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder rising by ₹60 to around ₹913 in New Delhi. The surge in demand has also led to reports of LPG cylinders being sold at inflated prices in the black market, highlighting the scale of panic bookings and supply concerns.