Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora has made announcement about the launching of another value added service for domestic LPG clients "Preferred Time Delivery of LPG Cylinders" on Tuesday.

Under the new plan, the domestic LPG users across India can get the delivery of the LPG refills to get the cylinder at home on the day and time of their choice by paying a small cost.

During the initial stage, the new service is being rolled out in the cities of Delhi, Gurgoan, NOIDA, Faridabad, Sonepat, Ghaziabad, Pune and Bengaluru.

The service will shortly be introduced in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad by end of this month.

The other major cities across India would enjoy the new service by 2010 end.

While addressing a press meet, Deora stated, The initiative is yet another step to provide better services to the people and would also help in mitigating the problem of receiving LPG refill. It would be of great help to the working people and where there is nobody in the house to accept delivery during normal working hours."

Mr. Jitin Prasada, the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that the newly announced plan is optional and is a reflection of pro people policies of the Government.

Domestic LPG is a highly subsidized product being used by over 11.5 crore people across the country which comprise more than 50pc of the population using it today.

The subsidy burden to the Government/the oil marketing companies in providing this convenient fuel to the people through a vast network of more than 9,500 LPG distributors round the year across the country is more than Rs. 225 per cylinder.

It may also be remembered that the administration announced Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitrak Scheme (RGGLVY) to offer up LPG in rustic regions. The plan was launched to benefit rural womenfolk. (With Inputs from Agencies)