Lok Sabha Question No. 1041 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-05
Subject: Availability of LPG Agency in Rural Areas
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1041 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th  February, 2026

## Availability of LPG Agency in Rural Areas

† 1041. Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan:

## पेůोिलयम एवं ÿाक ृ ितक गैस मंýी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  number  of  Liquefied  Petroleum  Gas  (LPG)  agencies  in  the  rural,  tribal  and remote  areas  of  the  Ratlam  Parliamentary  Constituency  is  inadequate  resulting  in  serious difficulties for consumers in obtaining gas connections, timely refilling and distribution, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any survey, site selection or prepared any proposal for approval of new LPG agencies or expansion of existing agencies in the said Constituency, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to approve new LPG agencies promptly, keeping in view the  population,  geographical  location  and  consumer  demand  in  the  area,  if  so,  the  likely timeframe thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğालय मɅ राÏयमंğी ( Įी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a) to (c):- Appointment of LPG distributorships by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs)  is  a  continuous  process  and  locations  for  setting  up  of  LPG  distributorships  are identified and advertised as per Unified Selection Guidelines for LPG distributorships (USG)2016.

The process of applying for  LPG distributorship  has  been  simplified  and  a  transparent  online selection process is in place. All applicants are required to submit their application on web-based portal https://www.lpgvitarakchayan.in. The online selection process includes, online receipt of application, processing and online draw of lots etc. Detailed guidelines on eligibility, infrastructure  requirement  of  land  for  LPG  godown,  approach  road  for  godown,  Showroom, infrastructure for home delivery of LPG cylinders etc. along with the details of selection process are given at www.lpgvitrakchayan.in.

As of January 01, 2026, there are a total of 25,596 LPG distributorships across the country, out of which 17,668 are serving rural areas. In order to improve access of LPG in rural and remote areas,  OMCs  have  commissioned  a  total  of  8,027  distributorships,  during  01.04.2016  to 31.12.2025 across the country, out of which 7,434 (i.e. 93 %) are catering to rural areas.

To further improve last-mile delivery in remote and underserved habitations, OMCs have taken several  measures,  including  commissioning  of  new  distributorships,  appointment  of  Common Service Center - Village Level Entrepreneur (CSC VLEs), use of modern technology tools for order booking and payments.

Ratlam Parliamentary Constituency covers Ratlam, Jhabua & Alirajpur districts and is served by a total of 68 LPG distributors of Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) including 58 rural  (Rurban,  Gramin  &  Durgam  Kshetriya  Vitrak  (DKV))  distributors.  Further,  OMCs  have advertised two new LPG distributorships, the details of which are as under:

|   Sr. No. | District   | Type of LPG Distributorship   | Oil Marketing Company   |
|-----------|------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------|
|         1 | Alirajpur  | Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV) | IOCL                    |
|         2 | Jhabua     | Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak (DKV) | BPCL                    |

Source: IOCL on behalf of PSU OMCs

To improve last mile delivery in these districts, OMCs have also engaged 61 numbers of CSCVLEs (Common Service Centre - Village Level Entrepreneur), etc. As a result of these efforts, the average refill delivery time in thesedistricts is less than 1.5 days.

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