Pune: e-KYC Rush Adds to LPG Agency Crowds in Pune
Pune, 11th March: Fears of a potential LPG shortage triggered long queues outside gas distribution centres across Pune, as residents rushed to secure domestic cylinders despite having already placed bookings.
The rush comes amid reports that the government has prioritised LPG supply for household consumers over industrial and commercial users due to disruptions in global energy supply linked to tensions involving Iran and Israel.
Residents Face Delays Despite Advance Bookings:
Since early morning, crowds were seen outside multiple gas agencies in different parts of the city, with customers waiting for hours to collect cylinders. Several residents said that deliveries were delayed even after online or phone bookings, with agencies citing limited stock availability.
Consumers reported being repeatedly informed that supplies had either not arrived or were insufficient to meet demand, further fuelling public anxiety.
e-KYC Verification Adding to Agency Rush:
The rush at gas agencies has also intensified because of the government’s mandatory e-KYC verification requirement for LPG connections.
Many consumers have been asked to visit their respective agencies to complete the verification process in person. However, technical problems such as server outages and fingerprint authentication failures have slowed the process, leaving customers waiting in long lines.
Several residents complained that they had spent hours at agencies without completing the verification due to these technical glitches.
The emerging supply concerns have also led some households to activate additional LPG connections that had remained unused. In many cases, families that previously relied on a single cylinder despite having multiple registered connections have started using their secondary connections as a precaution.
Officials have urged residents not to panic, stating that efforts are underway to streamline supplies and clear pending deliveries across the city while ensuring that domestic consumers continue to receive priority.
