LPG cylinder delivery exempted from lockdown: The Supply of LPG Cylinders would be normal during the 21-day national lockdown period, The Oil marketing company assured the customers. “We are taking all necessary precautions while making sure a smooth supply of #Indane LPG cylinders. Delivery of cylinder is on as per usual orders,” Indian Oil Corp (IOC) said on Twitter.

BPCL (Bhartiya Petroleum) has made an appeal, asking consumers to not make any panic bookings. It(BPCL) also stated that-  LPG distributorships are open and plants are working round the clock to ensure smooth supplies of LPG cylinders. “We will deliver LPG Cylinders at the doorstep to help you during this time of crisis.

The ministry of home affairs has issued a set of guidelines which clearly mention that LPG retail and storage outlets are exempted from the lockdown. Revised guidelines issued yesterday allow the LPG cylinders movement even as all transport services are banned.

Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday reviewed the supply arrangements with executives of state-run fuel retailers. On Wednesday, IndianOil said it has rejigged operations at major refineries to raise LPG output and working at bottling plants and deliveries to the dealer are being streamlined within the limitations of health safety and social distancing norms to meet higher demand. The emergency service cell number 1906 for LPG customers is also operational.

Explaining the spike in bookings currently, Prakash said apprehension among consumers that they will not get subsidy — even if they are still within the 12-cylinder a year norm — after March made them book refills. Moreover, consumers who still had the second cylinder but thought their connected refill was about to run out booked refills.

Meanwhile, In Chandigarh, the administration has asked people to not venture out of their houses to visit gas agencies for booking LPG cylinders. People have been asked to place an order over the phone for delivery of the LPG cylinder at their doorstep.

LPG cylinder prices are revised at the beginning of every month. If the last 5 months are taken into account, LPG price has been hiked by ₹35.5 a cylinder. In Delhi, a 14.2 kg non-subsidized LPG cylinder costs ₹805, down from ₹858 in the previous month. A cylinder in Kolkata costs ₹839, in Mumbai ₹776.5 and in Chennai ₹826.

As per government policy, LPG all over the country is available only at market price. However, households are entitled to buying 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at a subsidized rate in a year. The government transfers the subsidy amount directly into the bank accounts which the beneficiaries use to buy LPG at the market price.