Four-decade-old diesel dealer licensing order repealed in Odisha

In an initiative aimed at improving ease of doing business in the petroleum sector, the Odisha Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday approved repeal of the four-decade-old “Odisha High Speed Diesel (Dealers’ Licensing) Order, 1979”, eliminating the requirement of obtaining a separate retail sale licence for High-Speed Diesel (HSD) outlets in the state.

The decision will be implemented through a fresh notification titled “The Odisha High Speed Diesel (Dealers’ Licensing) Repeal Order, 2026”.

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The 1979 order had originally been issued by the State Government under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to regulate the sale and distribution of diesel across Odisha.

The repeal follows an advisory issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to all States and Union Territories, urging them to abolish the Retail Sale Licence (RSL) system for diesel outlets in order to remove procedural bottlenecks and promote a more business-friendly regulatory framework.

Officials said the Cabinet decision would significantly simplify the approval process for fuel retail outlets and reduce duplication in obtaining clearances.

At present, operators setting up fuel stations are already required to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the concerned Collector and District Magistrate.

These approvals are granted after mandatory clearances from agencies such as Fire Services, Works Department, Revenue authorities and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

Following the repeal, retail outlet owners will not have to undergo the same clearance process again for obtaining diesel retail sale licences, thereby cutting compliance burden and reducing delays in operations.

The State Government said the move is expected to facilitate investment, streamline regulatory procedures and encourage growth in the petroleum retail sector.