Bangalore: Now, pick up your cooking gas cylinder with minimum fuss at a petrol pump. Five kg cylinders will now be available at selected company owned petrol pumps as part of a pilot scheme – and all you need is a valid identity card. For now the facility will initially be available in just 11 outlets in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore on a pilot basis.
This is a new initiative from the government – cutting out some of the paper work and making it easier to get hold of an LPG gas cylinder. The cylinders are not subsidised – and the first cylinder would cost Rs. 1000 plus taxes and regulator costs – and almost Rs. 500 for a refill.
The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Veerappa Moily, formally launched the scheme in south Bangalore in his home state of Karnataka.
He told NDTV this was one of the ways to make things easier for consumers.
This new scheme should help people in transferrable jobs and migrant labourers to quickly get hold of cooking gas with minimal paperwork as no proof of address is needed.
And timings for picking up the gas and later refills would also help those who work long hours – as petrol pumps are open until late. This should be good news for IT and BPO employees who often stay in office until late – and may not be at home to take delivery of cylinders.
Connection portability was also launched in 30 cities across India. This enables LPG consumers to switch to a different gas distributor – even those from different companies.
So it does look as if it might be easier to get your hands on a gas cylinder from now on. You can pick it up at the same place you might go to refuel your vehicle.
