No Gas for Four Hours Across Large Parts of the Capital on Saturday, Titas Announces

Gas supply will remain suspended for four consecutive hours across large parts of the capital Dhaka tomorrow, Saturday. Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC has said the supply will be kept off from 2pm to 6pm for emergency leak repair work on a pipeline.

The gas distribution company announced the information in a notice on Friday (23 October). Coming just before the weekly holiday, the announcement has sparked widespread discussion among residents of the affected areas.

The notice said that from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday, gas supply will be suspended for all categories of customers in Norda, Kalachandpur, Bashundhara, Joar Sahara, Bhatara, Baridhara J Block and adjoining areas on both sides of the road from Notun Bazar to Kuril Bishwaroad in Dhaka.

In other words, no category of customer — residential, commercial or any other — will receive gas during those four hours. As the areas are densely populated and residentially and commercially important parts of the capital, a huge number of families and establishments will be affected.

The notice cited emergency leak repair work on the pipeline as the reason for the shutdown. A leak in a gas pipeline is not merely a supply problem but also a safety risk, which is presumably why the decision was taken to repair it on an emergency basis.

The afternoon-to-evening window is an important time for cooking preparations at home. With no gas during these four hours — after lunch and before evening cooking — many families will have to finish cooking in advance or think of alternatives.

Restaurants, food shops and other commercial establishments in the areas may also face disruption to normal operations during this time. In particular, the absence of gas in the busy hours before evening will create an added challenge for businesses.

The notice mentioned that the Titas Gas authorities have sincerely apologised to customers of the affected areas for the temporary inconvenience. The notice was published on Friday itself as part of an effort to minimise hardship by informing customers in advance.

Temporary gas shutdowns in the capital for maintenance or repair work are not new. But this time, with the areas and the timeframe specified in advance, customers are getting the chance to prepare ahead — the most important aspect of such announcements.

Residents are advised to complete necessary cooking before the shutdown and to remain careful about stoves and gas connections. After supply resumes, checking the connection before lighting a stove is important for safety.

According to the notice, supply is expected to return to normal after 6pm once the repair work is complete. However, residents of the areas will also be watching whether any change to the timeframe, depending on the progress of the work, is communicated to customers.

All in all, residents of this large part of the capital will have to spend Saturday afternoon without gas. Keeping the Titas notice in mind and preparing in advance will make it possible to manage much of the inconvenience of these four hours.