India, April 18 -- Even as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies show signs of stabilising across parts of the Capital, persistent gaps in doorstep delivery and lingering public anxiety continue to disrupt access for consumers, particularly the most vulnerable. At an Indane gas agency in the city, officials maintained that supply has "largely normalised." Amar Singh, a godown in-charge, said adequate stock now reaches the facility each morning. "There is no major shortage at present. Cylinders arrive by 8 a.m. and are cleared within an hour," he noted, attributing long queues to public fear of a fresh disruption. Also Read - At 50, Noida Authority focuses on infra and governance push However, ground realities reflect a more uneven picture. While Indane outlets remained operational, nearby Bharat Gas agencies were found shut, indicating patchy supply across distributors. Residents, many of whom queued as early as 8 am, reported continued hardship in securing refills despite paying for home delivery. "We don't want to stand in lines, but deliveries are unreliable," said Sarita Devi waiting outside a godown. Similar concerns were echoed by Mohammad Afnan, who claimed his refill was marked "delivered" on the official app despite not receiving the cylinder even after 15 days. "If it's delivered, where is it?" he asked, holding his booking receipt. Also Read - Crime Branch bust MDMA supply network in south Delhi, 2 arrested The shortage has disproportionately impacted students, migrant workers and temporary residents dependent on smaller cylinders or informal access channels. While households with regular connections appear less affected, access inequities remain pronounced. Officials acknowledged that panic-driven rebooking has intensified pressure on the system, with consumers placing repeat orders to stock up amid uncertainty. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has urged citizens to avoid panic buying and rely on digital booking systems. It assured that domestic LPG supply remains a priority despite global uncertainties, including disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. Measures such as increased refinery output, extended booking intervals, and promotion of alternate fuels like PNG and induction cooking have been rolled out. While authorities project improvement, the disconnect between official claims and consumer experience suggests that for many in Delhi, the crisis has eased but not fully resolved.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.