[Hubli] Send an SMS, get LPG at your doorstep

Source: Times of India



HUBLI: In what can be termed a revolution in LPG supply, Bharat Gas has decided to allow SMS booking for customers in Hubli-Dharwad.

This comes as a great relief for customers, who need not wait for a month to get their supply of gas from distributors. All they have to do is thumb out an SMS to their dealer, and it will be delivered within 24 or 36 hours.

The Union petroleum minister had instructed all gas dealers in the country to introduce SMS booking system for the benefit of customers a few months ago, to make the system of supplying LPG a hassle-free process. Bharat Gas was the first to respond, and adopt the system in the twin cities.

Earlier, they had to wait for a month -- with the mandatory 20-day interim period -- and would get their gas cylinder only after a week of booking. There were also complaints from customers of delay on the part of dealers in supplying LPG.

To avail of this facility, customers need to fill out a form with details of name, gas supply number and mobile number, issued by dealers for registration. Once registered for this service, they just need to send an SMS to the numbers given by the respective dealers.

Those customers living within a 5-km radius of the dealer will get LPG within 24 hours after sending an SMS, while those staying beyond this radius will get it within 36 hours.

Speaking to The Times of India, Raju Kurtkoti, Bharat Gas distributor, Desai and Co, said: "We have introduced this system for the first time for our customers, as per the instruction of the Union petroleum minister."

"We also have manual booking facility for those who don't have mobiles or who are not able to send SMS. It is only to provide better service to customers that we introduced SMS facility. We will also keep an eye on the people if they tried to misuse this system to get LPG gas even before completion of the minimum 21 days. This service is completely free of cost," he added.