IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL Face Cylinder Delivery Backlog of 2.66 Lakh Units

Official data shows a backlog of nearly 2.66 lakh LPG cylinders in Prayagraj, with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) accounting for around 1.44 lakh pending deliveries, while Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) face shortages of about 62,000 and 60,000 cylinders, respectively.

The backlog has disrupted daily life for thousands of households still awaiting LPG cylinders weeks after booking, despite assurances from officials that there is no actual shortage of LPG, petrol or diesel.

Sunil Singh, district supply officer (DSO), attributed the situation to advance bookings triggered by concerns over possible disruptions due to tensions in the Gulf, despite ongoing ceasefire efforts.

Residents continue to face difficulties, with consumers reaching gas agencies as early as midnight to secure bookings, many returning without cylinders even after waiting through the night, affecting working families, homemakers and elderly residents.

Delays are also reported after the issuance of the delivery authentication code (DAC), with deliveries taking seven to eight days or longer, often requiring repeated follow-ups with agencies.

Radhe Mohan Agarwal, a consumer of Mirapur National Gas Agency, said he received his DAC on April 12 but got the cylinder only on Thursday after lodging a complaint with Vijay Sharma, ADM (Civil Supplies).