Online booking chaos: LPG dealers demand ESMA action against oil companies LPG dealers in Nagpur have called for legal action against oil companies under the Emergency Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) for failing to ensure their online booking systems operate 24/7, leading to widespread consumer frustration. The Maharashtra chapter of the LPG Dealers Association of India (LDAI) has raised concerns about the safety of their staff, who are now working extended hours under pressure from irate customers. Bablu Tiwari, state president of the LDAI, emphasized that ESMA mandates uninterrupted service, stating, “ESMA means you cannot stop the service under any condition. If dealers fear for their lives and lock their godowns, the police will be at their doorstep.” The issue stems from oil companies’ inability to maintain functional online booking portals, resulting in delayed or failed OTP deliveries. Mahendra Gavai, owner of a gas agency with over 50,000 registered customers, criticized the lack of IT infrastructure upgrades, noting, “The OTP delivery problem has persisted for a long time. Many consumers have complained, yet the system remains sluggish.” He argued that reliance on outdated technology is exacerbating the crisis, comparing it to the efficiency of Mumbai’s dabbawalas, who deliver food without digital systems. The malfunctioning platform has forced delivery staff to work 14-hour shifts instead of the standard eight, with employees required to punch authentication codes for deliveries on the same day. Gavai explained, “With the portal often unresponsive, staff are working late into the night to complete tasks. Additionally, we have only a three-hour window to place orders for loads, or they get delayed to the next day.#nagpur #lpg_dealers_association_of_india #esma #mahendra_gavai #bablu_tiwari
