Underground LPG for customer convenience
New Delhi   02-Jan-2010
IndianOil has taken the initiative to set up underground tanks in residential and commercial complexes to store LPG for convenience of the customers. Mr. Abhijit Dey, a senior Area Manager, said that promoters who want to get the facility need to inform the IndianOil before constructing the apartments. The LPG would be stored in the underground reservoir and then supplied to individual customers through a pipeline. In housing complexes, hotels and commercial complexes, where there is shortage of space, a bank will be set up where cylinders will be stored in the ground floor. The decision has been taken after it was found that it had become very difficult for office-going spouses to book cylinders. In many cases waiting time goes up to several days and cooking becomes difficult due to lack of fuel. A meter will be installed in each household. The users will have to pay monthly bills that will be determined on the basis of meter reading. Residents will have to pay Rs. 25 for each kilogram of gas. It will be cost-effective as there is no need for a security deposit to receive the LPG gas. Each household will have to pay Rs. 17,000 to get the connection. However, this cost will go down if the numbers of consumers are more in a housing complex. The official said in case of any leakage, an emergency cut off valve will be installed and the LPG supply will be automatically cut off. Moreover, there will be a fire safety alarm and another alarm to indicate if the LPG containers are near empty. The IndianOil official said the construction of the underground reservoir to store LPG in some housing complexes has already begun.