Major Disruptions in Indian Oil Gas Booking
The Indian oil gas booking system is currently facing significant disruptions, primarily due to a surge in customer demand. Indane’s LPG refill booking system has crashed across the country, leading to longer wait times for consumers.
The volume of calls to the company’s IVRS and missed call booking numbers has increased to 8-10 times the usual levels. This unprecedented situation has resulted in the government increasing the minimum waiting period for booking a domestic LPG cylinder refill from 21 days to 25 days.
As demand for domestic cylinders has surged by 50%, the supply has simultaneously reduced by 50%. This imbalance has left many customers frustrated as they experience longer wait times for LPG cylinder bookings.
In Delhi, the price of a standard 14.2kg LPG gas cylinder has risen to ₹913, marking an increase of ₹60. This price hike is compounded by the fact that 60% of India’s LPG needs are typically met by imports, which are currently delayed due to geopolitical tensions.
According to Indane, “We are currently facing an unprecedented situation.” This sentiment is echoed by distributors, with one in Bengaluru stating, “The vendor invoice management system is also down,” further complicating the booking process.
Consumers are feeling the impact of these disruptions acutely. A consumer in Madipakkam noted that “the IVR kept repeating its message,” indicating the system’s inability to handle the influx of calls. Meanwhile, an employee at an Indane distribution center described the scene, saying, “People were anxious and crowded the office with their empty cylinders to get new ones.”
The crisis began when LPG gas booking volumes skyrocketed to 10 times the daily average due to government policy changes. As domestic production has been prioritized, the delays in imports have exacerbated the situation.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding how long these disruptions will last or if further measures will be implemented to manage the situation.
