What is the story about?
Residents in Gurugram will no longer have to wait for cooking gas deliveries, as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL) has launched India’s first LPG ATM. The automated machine, installed at Central Park Flower Valley in Sector 33, Sohna, refills a cylinder in just two to three minutes.
The pilot project, branded “BharatGas Insta LPG”, is part of BPCL’s efforts to test automated gas distribution in urban areas.
“The initiative is designed to provide quick, safe, and round-the-clock access to LPG, particularly during supply shortages,” a BPCL spokesperson was quoted as saying in CNBC Awaaz report.
How the LPG ATM works
Registered BharatGas customers can use the ATM by entering their mobile number, verifying via OTP, scanning the QR or barcode of their empty cylinder, and completing payment digitally through UPI or debit card.
The machine automatically collects the empty cylinder and dispenses a filled one.
Unlike traditional iron cylinders weighing approximately 31 kg, the LPG ATM provides lighter composite cylinders of about 15 kg, which feature a transparent body for easy monitoring of gas levels.
Officials noted that the design makes cylinders safer, dust- and corrosion-free, and easier to handle.
Restocking and usage
The LPG ATM holds up to 10 cylinders at a time. When stock falls below two cylinders, the nearest gas agency receives an alert to replenish the machine. Since its launch on March 6, the ATM has dispensed only a few cylinders, as awareness about the facility is still growing.
BPCL said that if the pilot proves successful, similar machines could be installed in other parts of the National Capital Region.
Residents who have used the facility described it as a convenient alternative to delivery schedules. The initiative is also expected to provide relief during periods of LPG supply disruption, especially as India imports a significant portion of its cooking gas, mainly from the Middle East.
The pilot project, branded “BharatGas Insta LPG”, is part of BPCL’s efforts to test automated gas distribution in urban areas.
“The initiative is designed to provide quick, safe, and round-the-clock access to LPG, particularly during supply shortages,” a BPCL spokesperson was quoted as saying in CNBC Awaaz report.
How the LPG ATM works
Registered BharatGas customers can use the ATM by entering their mobile number, verifying via OTP, scanning the QR or barcode of their empty cylinder, and completing payment digitally through UPI or debit card.
The machine automatically collects the empty cylinder and dispenses a filled one.
Unlike traditional iron cylinders weighing approximately 31 kg, the LPG ATM provides lighter composite cylinders of about 15 kg, which feature a transparent body for easy monitoring of gas levels.
Officials noted that the design makes cylinders safer, dust- and corrosion-free, and easier to handle.
Restocking and usage
The LPG ATM holds up to 10 cylinders at a time. When stock falls below two cylinders, the nearest gas agency receives an alert to replenish the machine. Since its launch on March 6, the ATM has dispensed only a few cylinders, as awareness about the facility is still growing.
BPCL said that if the pilot proves successful, similar machines could be installed in other parts of the National Capital Region.
Residents who have used the facility described it as a convenient alternative to delivery schedules. The initiative is also expected to provide relief during periods of LPG supply disruption, especially as India imports a significant portion of its cooking gas, mainly from the Middle East.
