Bengaluru Households Grapple with Extended LPG Cylinder Delivery Delays
Concerns are mounting across Bengaluru as numerous city households report prolonged delays in LPG cylinder deliveries, with many consumers experiencing wait times stretching well beyond two weeks. The situation has created significant hardship for families dependent on timely gas supply for daily cooking needs.
Consumer Experiences Highlight Widespread Delivery Issues
Manju J, a domestic worker residing in Yelahanka, shared her distressing experience: "It has been more than 25 days since we booked an Indane cylinder and we still haven't received it. There are four people in my family, including my two children. I have asked everyone I know for a cylinder but to no avail."
She further explained her desperate attempts to find alternatives: "I went to buy an induction stove but even that was not available in stores. Now I have paid Rs 1,500 for a cylinder that has about 30-40% gas. I am dreading the days it runs out completely."
Ajith Kumar, a resident of Horamavu, recounted his two-week ordeal with Hindustan Petroleum: "I booked a cylinder and waited for 2 weeks before deciding to go to the refilling station to enquire. I was told there was some OTP problem. After one week, I went there again, and they asked me to collect the cylinder from the refilling station only. I stood in a long queue and finally got my gas cylinder."
Systemic Problems and Grievance Redressal Failures
Multiple consumers have reported similar delays across different service providers. One consumer revealed that a domestic LPG refill booked on March 25 through Shri Vishnu Indane Gas Agency remained undelivered even after 16 days.
The situation is particularly challenging for households with only one cylinder, who find it difficult to manage their cooking needs during these extended delays. Adding to the frustration are widespread complaints about the grievance redressal mechanism.
Several consumers claim their complaints were marked as resolved without actual delivery of cylinders. Others reported that delivery personnel were not answering calls, making it nearly impossible to get any assurance or timeline from authorities about when their cylinders might arrive.
Official Response and Company Statement
In response to growing consumer concerns, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's spokesperson addressed the situation: "The company's backlog was just 3-and-a-half days in Bangalore urban district. We strictly follow the FIFO circulation model for supply of LPG in the region."
The spokesperson further advised consumers experiencing delays to call the toll-free number 1800224344 to obtain contact details of their local distributors for direct assistance.
The discrepancy between official claims of minimal backlog and consumer experiences of weeks-long delays highlights the communication gap and operational challenges in Bengaluru's LPG distribution system.
