Feb. 20: The Assam oil division of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has decided to upgrade its distribution network to streamline the disbursal system of LPG cylinders in the city.

To achieve this objective, the division has introduced the concept of ?Indane star distributorship?. Executive director of the division, B.K. Sarma, said a select group of LPG distributors would be accredited as star distributors who would have to adhere to rigorous parameters in terms of safety, reliability and value-added services to the consumers.

?It is a big leap in our efforts to progress from customer care to customer delight,? Sarma said.

According to the division, the star distributors will deliver LPG cylinders within 24 hours besides providing weight and leak checking of cylinders at customer?s houses with portable weighing scale and leak detectors, well-trained uniformed delivery personnel, round-the-clock booking of refills and gas leak complaints, etc.

The introduction of the new concept in the city is expected to curb unhealthy practices like distribution of underweight cylinders by some unscrupulous distributors.

Sarma said already six Indane distributors of the city have been accredited the star status and consumers of these distributors will now receive the added services which are benchmarked with the best in the country.

The six selected distributors are Bhasker Gas Agency at Rehabari, City Gas Service at Beltola, Shankardev Gas Agency at Sixth Mile, Technico at Uzan Bazar, Padmaja Gas Agency at Ulubari and Hangsa Gas Agency at Hengerabari areas of the city.

IOC sources said more Indane distributors are planned to be upgraded to star status in the city as well as in other major towns of the Northeast shortly.

The IOC?s Assam oil division and marketing division together have around 25 LPG distributors in the city.

The IOC has also stepped up its vigil on distributors to check any violation of laid-down norms.

The IOC has directed all the distributors to properly display the correct price of refill cylinders, delivery vehicle identification sign, uniforms and identity cards for delivery boys and mechanics to check unhealthy practices like over-charging, impersonation as IOC mechanics by fake persons, diversion of domestic cylinders for commercial use, etc.

The IOC also warned of a clamp down on distributors who practise unfair means to gain more profit.

The move has come in the wake of allegations against some distributors of forcing the consumers to pay a higher price for the cooking gas in the black market by creating artificial scarcity.