Dashain Relief: LPG Cylinder Exchange Service Launched at Six Locations Across Kathmandu Valley

With Dashain approaching, arrangements have been introduced to ensure a smooth supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) across the Kathmandu Valley. The Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, in coordination with Nepal Oil Corporation and the Gas Sellers Federation, has launched a special gas distribution and cylinder exchange program operating from Ghatasthapana through Phulpati. Under the arrangement, consumers can exchange an empty LPG cylinder from one company for a filled cylinder from another participating brand without paying an additional cylinder exchange charge. However, customers must pay the regular price of the filled gas cylinder. The initiative aims to make cooking gas more accessible during the festive period and reduce the inconvenience of searching multiple shops for a compatible cylinder. The service is available at six designated locations across the valley. Shree Krishna Gas Industry in Kalanki is distributing Shree Krishna and Sai Baba gas. Other participating locations include Nepal Gas Industry in Balaju, Sagar Gas warehouse in Pepsicola, Baba Gas depot in Sukedhara, Everest and Sugam Gas Centre in Sifal, and Shriram Gas warehouse in Harisiddhi, Lalitpur. Gas distribution hours have been set from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. According to Diwan Chand, chairman of the Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, the initiative will allow consumers to exchange cylinders across brands for one week to ease access to cooking gas during Dashain. He noted that the market currently has 58 cylinder brands supplied by 58 gas industries. The arrangement is expected to reduce the additional costs consumers sometimes face when exchanging cylinders belonging to different companies, which can reach as much as Rs. 300. Nagendra Sah, executive director of Nepal Oil Corporation, also stated that the initiative was introduced following discussions with gas industry representatives to make the distribution process more convenient for consumers. The program particularly targets households that have only one LPG cylinder and might otherwise need to visit several retailers to find a replacement during the festival. To prevent misuse, each genuine consumer will be permitted to exchange only one cylinder under the special arrangement. Authorities and participating distributors will also record customers’ identifying details and mobile numbers to maintain records of the transactions. Despite the announced provision allowing cross-brand exchanges, some consumers have complained that certain distributors are accepting only cylinders bearing their own company’s branding. These complaints have raised concerns about whether the arrangement is being implemented consistently across all six locations. The effectiveness of the initiative will depend on whether participating distributors follow the announced rules and provide the service uniformly. Consumers are expected to benefit most if all designated centres accept eligible cylinders from different brands without imposing additional exchange charges, helping households secure cooking gas more conveniently throughout the Dashain holiday period.