LPG cylinder booking through SMS now

Booking domestic LPG cylinder refill may be just a text message on mobile phone away.

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, at the inauguration of Indian Oil Corporation's Golden Jubilee celebration, said LPG booking can soon be done through SMS.

"Recently, we have formulated Vision 2015 in the area of marketing. The LPG coverage is available to about 50 per cent of our population currently. Under the Vision, it is to be extended to 75 per cent by 2015," he said.

For this, the existing scheme of LPG distributorship will be supplemented by a new Scheme of LPG Gramin Vitrak.

"Innovative approaches such as accepting bookings for LPG through SMS and providing 100 per cent LPG coverage in cities with more than 5 lakh population will be undertaken," he said.

"Also, a road map for expanding CNG supplies to 200 cities is being devised," he said.

Speaking on volatility in international oil prices, he said the price of crude oil had gone up to $147 per barrel in the month of July 2008 and was down to $35 towards the end of the year.

Alongwith the volatility, was the challenge of economic downturn facing the whole world.

"We, however, faced effectively the challenge of the global situation," Deora said.