Now, gas booking, re-filling via CSCs

New Delhi: In an effort to make it easier for new gas connection, re-filling and delivery of household cylinders, the government has appointed common service centres (CSCs) to provide such facilities through Digital Seva Portal. Public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) and CSCs on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate these services through three-lakh CSCs across the country.

Retail marketing of petroleum products is done by OMCs which include Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL). They have agreed to provide the benefits of Ujjawla connection, re-filling of new connection and other services through CSCs – a last mile access at consumers' doorstep.

The CSCs would help the beneficiary to scan/upload his/her KYC document for verification of his/her identity for a new booking connection. Beneficiaries can also collect the gas cylinder from their nearby CSC. The service centres would also provide requisite information about the scheme and promote it among citizens so that maximum number of beneficiaries can avail the benefit.

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas is appointing one Ujjawala Didi for every five villages whose prime responsibility is to support and give service to Ujjawala beneficiaries.

"The MoU with CSC will help us in promoting a transparent and convenient option. To fulfil the last mile gap, the role of CSCs can be very significant. CSC is the greatest model of the bottom of the pyramid," the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, said.

He said that in the last four years, the government had provided 10 crore additional LPG connections.