To ensure seamless hassle free access of LPG, Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) continuously expand the distribution network by setting up new Bottling Plants and commissioning new LPG distributorships. As of November 2023, there are 210 Bottling Plants and 25437 LPG distributors in the country. For ease of refill booking various methods have been providedviz. Interactive Voice Response System(IVRS), Short Message Service(SMS), Whatsapp, calling directly on the phone of distributor, e-commerce platforms, OMC mobile applications, OMCs web-portals etc. All distributors, except DurgamKshetriyaVitraks, are mandated to provide home delivery of LPG cylinders in their area of operation, including slums. Majority of the refill are delivered within 48 hours of refill booking.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was started in May, 2016 with an objective to provide access of clean cooking fuel to poor households across the country including urban slums. Under PMUY, deposit free LPG connections are provided to adult women from poor households as per defined criteria. Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY) all poor households including eligible Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) beneficiaries, can take LPG connections subject to fulfilling overall eligibility criteria.

PMUY phase-2, also known as Ujjwala 2.0, was launched in August, 2021. Under Ujjwala 2.0, all beneficiaries are provided free first refill and stove as well in addition to deposit free LPG connections. Further, special provision has been made for migrant families where they can avail new connections using a self-declaration as a proof of address and family declaration.

Government has approved release of additional 75 lakh connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for the period FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26, with Government support of ` 2,200 per connection for 14.2 Kg Single Bottle Connection/ 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection & ` 1,300 per connection for 5 Kg Single Bottle Connection. As of 30.09.2023, 9.59 Crore PMUY connections have been released in the country.

Government has taken several steps to encourage consumption of LPG, which include targeted subsidy of Rs.200/- per 14.2 Kg refill upto 12 refills/year for PMUY beneficiaries for years 2022-23 and 2023-24, increase in targeted subsidy to ` 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per annum since October 2023, option of 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection (DBC), swap option from 14.2 kg to 5 Kg, upto 3 free refills to PMUY beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package from April 2020 to December 2020 etc. As on 01.12.2023, the effective price of domestic LPG for PMUY consumers is Rs. 603 per 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder (Delhi). Per capita consumption of PMUY Beneficiaries has increased from 3.01 Refills/annum (in terms of 14.2 Kg refill) during FY 2019-20, to 3.71 Refills/annum during FY 2022-23 & further to 3.8 refills in 2023-24 (till October 2023). 

This information was given by the THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS SHRI RAMESWAR TELI, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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RKJ/M

(Release ID: 1987811)