Ludhiana: Residents in different parts of the city continue to face hardships due to delays in LPG cylinder deliveries and difficulties in completing mandatory eKYC formalities. Despite official assurances that there is no shortage of LPG supply, many claim that ground realities tell a different story. Many consumers report that even after successfully booking cylinders and receiving delivery authentication code (DAC) messages on their mobile phones, they are forced to wait for several days without receiving their cylinders. This has compelled people to make repeated visits to gas agencies, often standing in long queues. Mukesh, a resident of Rajiv Gandhi Colony in Focal Point area, said he had to take time off from work just to follow up on his LPG booking. “Even after receiving confirmation, the cylinder has not been delivered. I have been waiting for over 10 days. On one hand there is stress of work, and now cylinder unavailability has become another tension,” he said. Nanni Bai, a Shimlapuri resident, said managing household work without a gas cylinder has become nearly impossible. “We cannot cook properly without LPG. It has been many days, and we are somehow managing with great difficulty,” she said. No response to callsThe residents also complained that delivery staff was also not responding to their calls. Karandev Singh, an Urban Estate resident, said he had received his DAC message more than 10 days ago, but has yet to receive his cylinder. “The delivery has been pending for days. The delivery personnel are not answering calls, and I have no option but to visit the agency myself. This is extremely inconvenient,” he said. He also questioned the discrepancy between official claims and actual supply, asking whether there was mismanagement or other issues at play. “While earlier the delivery boys always picked up calls, situation is different now as they are not attending calls at all. So we had no choice, but to come here to check what the issue was with our cylinder delivery,” said 71-year-old Indu, a CMC Chowk resident who had to visit an agency on Chandigarh Road with her 73-year-old husband. The situation has been worsened by difficulties in completing eKYC verification, which is now mandatory for many LPG consumers. Due to limited online functionality and technical glitches, a large number of people are being forced to visit gas agencies in person. Elderly citizens and women are among the worst affected, as they have to join queues and wait to complete the verification process.Geeta, who recently visited a gas agency on Samrala Chowk for eKYC, described the situation as chaotic. “There are long lines everywhere. It is very difficult, especially for senior citizens. The entire process has become very stressful,” she said. The consumers have called for better monitoring of gas agencies to ensure timely delivery of cylinders and to prevent any malpractice, including black marketing.
