Chandigarh Grapples with LPG Supply Crisis as Online Booking System Fails
Long queues have formed outside gas agencies across Chandigarh following the collapse of the online LPG cylinder booking system. Residents are forced to wait for hours to secure bookings, with many urging the UT Administration to restore digital services promptly to avoid overcrowding.
System Overload Leads to Widespread Disruptions
A gas agency owner attributed the breakdown to excessive booking volumes, which overwhelmed the online platform. This has resulted in significant inconvenience for domestic consumers, who now must visit agencies in person amid the chaos.
Commercial Sector Hit Hard by Acute Shortages
Simultaneously, an acute shortage of commercial LPG cylinders is severely impacting eateries throughout the city. Small food outlets in booth markets are reducing menu items to conserve limited supplies, with some resorting to black market purchases where cylinders are sold above the official price of approximately Rs 1,922.
Vivek Sharma, a dhaba owner, highlighted the dire situation, stating his establishment is surviving on dwindling stock and has already scaled back offerings. Vendors in Sector 15 reported no fresh cylinder deliveries for four days, disrupting daily operations.
Global Tensions Exacerbate Supply Chain Issues
Officials link the shortage to supply disruptions caused by ongoing tensions in West Asia, which have affected commercial LPG distribution. Oil marketing companies are prioritizing deliveries to essential services such as hospitals, schools, and institutional kitchens to ensure meal continuity.
Data reveals a stark reduction in supply: Chandigarh's daily commercial cylinder intake has dropped from around 2,500 to about 500, while domestic cylinder availability has fallen to 30–40% of the usual 12,300 units per day.
Mixed Reports from Local Agencies
In Panchkula, residents faced delivery delays, prompting visits to gas agencies. However, an Indane agency in Sector 12, Chandigarh, reported no domestic shortage, with 200–250 cylinders in stock and no queues observed. Distributors maintain that domestic consumers are not experiencing significant shortages, though commercial supply remains irregular, continuing to burden small businesses.
With inputs from local reports, the situation underscores broader supply chain vulnerabilities affecting both households and the food industry.
