Ooty meet to discuss post-APM scenario

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, NOV. 6. The Indane cooking gas distributors in the city are set to evaluate the ``customer-friendly initiatives'' launched in recent months and evolve measures at further improving the service.

Providing them a forum for this exercise will be the convention of the Tamil Nadu Indane distributors at Udhagamandalam on November 10. Figuring prominently in the discussions will be measures aimed at retaining, if not improving, their market share in the post-administered pricing mechanism (APM), which is to be introduced from April 1, 2002.

The convention would be a learning session for new entrants and those seeking to introduce measures including refill booking over e-mail and Integrated Voice Response System (IVRS), extended working hours and functioning half-day on Sunday, the last one specifically to benefit working couples.

``The objective of the discussions is to prepare the distributor community for the post-APM scenario that would witness parallel LPG marketers strengthening their hold. The meet would provide feedback on the initiatives and suggestions to bridge the gaps'', distributor sources say.

The distributor community in its interaction with Indane officials at the meet would make suggestions to further tap the commercial cooking gas customer segment.

The convention comes ahead of the proposed launch of the official website of the Indane Area Office. Final touches are being given to the site - www.indanechennai.com.

The website, with considerable scope for expansion, provides information on several aspects related to cooking gas including safety and conservation of LPG.

Some of the formats on which customers should apply in the event of loss of cylinder or other equipment are available on the site. It also gives the name and addresses of cooking gas distributors, in the areas under the control of the office, besides details about the emergency cells. To make the site popular, there are plans to conduct contests.

Bharatgas tie-up with HDFC Bank likely

Meanwhile, following-up on its recent launch of e-booking of refills, Bharatgas, the cooking gas brand of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation, is examining the possibility of a tie-up with the HDFC Bank for its distributors.

According to the proposal, all the Bharatgas distributors would bank with HDFC enabling for speedier transactions with the oil company. The finer aspects of the banking arrangement, especially ``on what additional features the bank has to offer'' are being worked out. Bharatgas is set to call for a meeting of its distributors on the issue soon.

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Section  : Southern States
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