High cost of five kg FTL cylinders keeps new consumers away

With liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributors only providing five kg cylinders to those opting for new connections, not many are opting for it due to its high cost. A fresh five kg free trade LPG (FTL) connection costs around ₹1,760 including the cost of a cylinder. At the same time, a domestic 14.2 kg cylinder costs around ₹930.

Distributors say that they are only following instructions from State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) and are providing these five kg FTL cylinders to migrant labourers, those coming on transfers, and newly-weds. “It is a stop gap arrangement till the situation improves. We stopped all new connections a month back,” said a distributor.