Nagpur: As the LPG supply disruption linked to the West Asia conflict approaches its third week, ground-level challenges continue, with incomplete eKYC emerging as a parallel issue contributing to queues at gas agencies across the city. Despite some stabilisation in supply, agencies report that a steady stream of consumers arriving for eKYC verification is adding to the rush at centres. Officials said a substantial portion of daily footfall now comprises those who did not complete the process earlier and are turning up alongside consumers seeking refills.Distributors are currently managing two distinct categories — consumers seeking routine refills or new connections, and those with pending eKYC. The additional verification process for the latter is contributing to longer queues and increased waiting time at counters. Sharad Saraf, an agency representative, said the compliance requirement has been in place for over a year, but a backlog has now surfaced. “Many consumers delayed completing eKYC despite repeated advisories. Now they are coming in simultaneously, which is increasing the footfall at agencies,” he said. The verification process has posed challenges for several consumers. “OTP failures linked to outdated Aadhaar-registered mobile numbers remain a recurring issue, forcing many to update their details before completing eKYC. Since the LPG shortage is being experienced across the country, the online system is also under heavy load, leading to slower response times,” said Saraf. “I was asked to complete eKYC before getting a refill, but I am not receiving the OTP as my old number is linked,” said Sunita Petkar, a resident of Mahal. “Now I have to get that updated first, which is delaying the entire process.”“We are currently receiving around 80% of our required quota. In addition, there is an element of panic booking among consumers, which is putting further pressure on available stock,” said sources. District supply officer Anand Padole clarified that eKYC is primarily linked to the subsidy component availed by consumers. He said that even if a consumer has not completed eKYC, they can still book an LPG cylinder and receive delivery, provided they are registered with their respective agency and can authenticate via OTP. “While eKYC is mandatory, it does not directly hinder the refill process,” he said. Agencies attribute the slower pace partly to heavy system load due to simultaneous eKYC requests across regions. Officials added that while supply is expected to normalise gradually, the continued inflow of consumers for eKYC is likely to keep queues at agencies for the time being.
