Getting a Gas Cylinder Will Take Just 2-3 Minutes: Country's First LPG ATM Opens in This City

Gurugram LPG ATM: The repercussions of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East have now begun to reach the kitchens of households across India. Since India imports approximately 60 percent of its LPG requirements, disruptions in the supply chain are leading to interruptions in gas supply. Delays in gas shipments, coupled with panic bookings, have resulted in an immense surge in demand for gas cylinders. In an effort to alleviate these various difficulties, the country's first LPG ATM has been launched in Gurugram. This LPG vending machine operates in a manner similar to a conventional ATM.

BPCL Installs the LPG ATM Machine

It is worth noting that this smart LPG vending machine has been installed by Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) as a pilot project at Central Park Flower Valley in Sector 33, within the Sohna area of Gurugram. Through this facility, you can procure a gas cylinder within just 2-3 minutes. Consequently, you can now forget about waiting for a delivery—a process that may or may not arrive on time. This machine offers you the opportunity to walk away with a filled cylinder without the need for any phone calls, booking slots, or specific delivery windows. You simply need to complete a straightforward digital process. Although this LPG ATM—branded as 'BharatGas Insta LPG'—was officially launched two months ago, it has now been made accessible to the general public. The machine remains operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How Does the Machine Work?

• First, enter your registered mobile number on the machine's screen.

• Verify your identity by entering the One-Time Password (OTP) received on your mobile phone.

• Next, place the QR code or barcode affixed to your empty cylinder in front of the machine's scanner. The machine will then verify whether the cylinder is valid or not.

• Once the verification is successful, a window on the machine will open. • You must place your empty cylinder into the designated slot. The machine will automatically verify its authenticity, weight, and other parameters before drawing it inside.

• Next, you will need to make the payment for the gas—at the price displayed on the screen—using UPI.

• Once the payment is successful, a filled and sealed cylinder will be dispensed from the other section of the machine, or the delivery window.

• This entire process takes approximately 2–3 minutes.

What are its key features?

• Here, you will find 10-kilogram composite cylinders, which are significantly lighter than traditional steel cylinders.

• The machine can hold a maximum of 10 cylinders at a time. When the stock drops to just two remaining cylinders, the machine automatically sends an alert to the nearest gas agency requesting a refill.

How to exchange a steel cylinder for a composite cylinder?

• First, take the relevant documents (such as your passbook) for your 14.2-kilogram steel gas cylinder and visit a Bharat Gas agency.

• Request that they accept your old steel cylinder and exchange it for a 10-kilogram composite cylinder.

• You will then need to deposit the difference between the security deposit for the old cylinder (approximately ₹1,450) and the security deposit for the new composite cylinder (approximately ₹3,350)—amounting to a difference of approximately ₹1,990.

• The agency will then issue you a new, lightweight composite cylinder. You can now visit an LPG ATM at any time to get it refilled in just two minutes.

Summary

Please note that the composite cylinder may prove to be slightly more expensive. While the security deposit for a standard 14.2-kilogram steel cylinder is approximately ₹1,450, the security deposit for a composite cylinder is approximately ₹3,350.