LUCKNOW: Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) services for LPG booking remained unresponsive in several parts of the city, forcing residents to visit gas agencies in person, a TOI reality check on Thursday found. Consumers said booking attempts through official phone numbers, WhatsApp, and online systems largely failed, leaving many to approach agencies directly and face long queues and uncertainty over delivery.A large number of people were reported outside agencies in Rajajipuram, Dubagga, Lalkuan, Lalbagh, and Sadar. Residents said booking lines remained unanswered, and WhatsApp services did not respond. Even those who placed bookings reported delivery delays of several days instead of the usual 1 to 2 days turnaround. Noori, a resident of Sadar Bazaar who gets her LPG from a distributor in Lalkuan, said repeated attempts to book a refill over the phone failed, as calls to the official number either did not connect or brought no clear response. With Ramzan underway, the lack of communication made it difficult for families to plan daily cooking, she remarked. Residents in other areas reported similar problems. Uzma Kidwai from Burlington said the WhatsApp numbers advertised for quick bookings did not respond. Without updates on cylinder availability or delivery schedules, they were left guessing when the refill would arrive, she observed. Shakeel Ahmad also reported unanswered calls to the customer care helpline, adding that delivery personnel cited server problems for booking numbers not connecting. At an Indane agency in Rajajipuram, residents stood in long queues while staff asked customers to complete KYC formalities again before initiating bookings. Shivam Pandey, who waited for hours, said agency staff attributed the problem to server issues affecting booking numbers. Heavy crowds were also reported at an LPG agency in Dubagga, where residents waited for hours under the sun. Saurabh, standing in the queue, said the absence of clear information on booking or delivery created confusion among consumers trying to arrange refills. Residents in Lalbagh, Lalkuan, and Sadar reported similar difficulties in contacting agencies or confirming bookings. Even confirmed bookings did not ensure timely delivery. Sweta Mishra from Nirala Nagar said she booked a refill 3 days ago, but the cylinder did not arrive. Priyanka Verma noted that deliveries which earlier took 1 day were now stretching into several days. Distributors attributed the situation to supply constraints and rising demand. An agency operator in Aliganj said the booking system was accepting requests, but stocks from bottling plants declined, and with deliveries strictly following the waiting list, limited supply caused delays. (Mariyam Shakeel, Shruti Shukla, Amritansh Singh)
