The high upfront cost of 5-kg LPG cylinders and limited awareness continue to keep them out of reach for many migrant workers in the Capital despite a surge in uptake.
Although 1,368 such cylinders a day were initially set aside for migrant workers and students by the Delhi government, demand has now exceeded this allocation, an official source told The Hindu. “Last week, on many days, only around 700 of these cylinders were being bought by workers from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). This week, the numbers have risen, and on April 16, around 3,705 cylinders were purchased,” the official said, adding that more cylinders have been diverted from other categories to meet the demand.
The 5-kg cylinder, termed as free trade LPG, is priced at around ₹600 per refill (₹120 per kg) compared with ₹913 for a 14.2-kg domestic cylinder (₹64.2 per kg), making it nearly 87% more expensive per kg. The initial purchase is even steeper as workers must pay about ₹1,550 for the first cylinder, including the refill.
Most migrant workers told The Hindu they use locally made 3-kg or 5-kg cylinders, which, before the West Asia conflict, were refilled in local markets for around ₹100 per kg. These refills are not authorised by OMCs. On top of the ₹1,550 initial cost, workers have to spend another ₹300-₹350 on a compatible regulator as existing regulators do not fit OMC-issued cylinders.
