Pune: The required 96-hour delivery timeline for LPG refills is still not being consistently met in several parts of the city, despite assurances from district authorities. Dealers said while the situation has improved, it has not yet fully stabilised.A city-based dealer stated that supply has increased significantly, but delays persist in areas with a high number of pending bookings. “Although customer panic has eased, there is still pressure on gas agencies. In approximately half of my service area, deliveries are now being completed within 96 hours; however, regions with a large backlog continue to face delays. The timeline will be met across all areas in the coming days,” the dealer said.
He noted that his pending bookings have dropped from around 6,500 to approximately 4,000.“The current supply levels are strong and sufficient to meet demand,” he added.Dealers have also observed a change in customer behaviour, with more people visiting agencies for administrative services rather than refills.“Many customers are coming in for KYC updates, address corrections and mobile number changes, leading to greater crowds for these services than for cylinder bookings,” another dealer said.Panic booking during the recent shortage had increased the number of pending orders, as many customers placed bookings without actually needing refills. To address this, agencies are considering cancelling such outdated bookings and asking customers to rebook when necessary, which would help streamline deliveries.Not all dealers, however, reported sufficient supply.An Indane distributor said he is still facing shortages. “There are around 400 pending bookings daily, but only about 300 cylinders are supplied, so the backlog continues. A slight increase in supply would help clear pending orders more quickly,” he said.“Delays are partly due to operational challenges at bottling plants and the late arrival of delivery trucks, which often results in deliveries being made late at night,” he added.“Although the situation has improved compared to the peak of the recent shortage, it may take a few more days before the 96-hour delivery standard is consistently achieved across the entire city,” the dealer said.
