As August 23 eKYC deadline for LPG connection nears, people make a dash to gas agencies

Cooking gas agencies in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana are experiencing a surge in customer traffic as the August 23 e-KYC deadline approaches. This wave of activity is likely driven by messages from oil marketing companies (OMC) encouraging domestic LPG consumers to complete e-KYC promptly to avoid supply disruptions. The August 23 deadline was recently extended from August 16 to August 23, 2026, to prevent users from losing eligibility for the domestic rate of LPG cylinders.

The frantic last-minute rush has led to lengthy queues, extended waiting times, and heightened tensions at several LPG distributorships. The situation has been further complicated by technical issues, including slow server processing and occasional unavailability of the system. Oil marketing companies have intensified their efforts to ensure all domestic LPG users complete the authentication process.

The e-KYC, which verifies a user's identity with their Aadhaar, aims to eliminate ghost consumers and ensure that the refill reaches the intended recipient rather than being misdirected. While the government subsidy on domestic LPG refills has been gradually reduced, the exercise has nonetheless raised concerns among other households. Some interpret that non-compliant users may face higher rates for cylinder supply. Senior officials in the OMCs, speaking on condition of anonymity, dismissed these fears as unfounded.

Multiple distributors report that many of the remaining customers are rushing to complete the process. It is possible that the deadline could be extended again, but it is unlikely that all connections will be authenticated as some might become inactive after the death of the users, connections could shift to pipeline or PNG connections, and a few users might not be interested in completing the process.

Telangana LPG Distributors Association president Jagan Mohan Reddy notes that some distributors are now handling 200-300 customers daily over the last few days, a significant increase from their usual activities.