The Government of India has notified a uniform framework for laying gas pipelines by City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities, mandating consumers to switch to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in areas where pipeline connectivity is available.The move comes against the backdrop of likely prolonged constraints in LPG and LNG supplies, following extensive damage to energy infrastructure in the Gulf and disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the new rules, key bottlenecks such as land access, right-of-way (RoW) delays, and high charges have been addressed through a streamlined approval mechanism.
Land access and RoW approvals in residential areas must be granted within three working days
Permissions for last-mile PNG connectivity to households must be cleared within two days
The government has also tightened compliance timelines for consumers:
LPG supply will be halted after three months for households that do not respond to notices or fail to apply for a PNG connection
LPG distributors of oil marketing companies will notify consumers via SMS, phone calls, or recorded messages about the discontinuation timeline
However, safeguards have been built in. LPG supply will continue where the authorised CGD entity issues a No Objection Certificate (NoC) stating that providing a PNG connection is technically unfeasible.Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, MoPNG, said, “PNGRB has issued orders and directed all the CGD entities to provide PNG connections to residential schools, colleges, hostels, community kitchens, anganwadi kitchens etc. within 5 days wherever pipeline infrastructure is available in the near vicinity.”She added, “There are roughly 60 lakh such households where PNG connection can be given immediately and we have appealed to these consumers that they should quickly take the connection.”The policy aims to accelerate PNG adoption, strengthen urban gas infrastructure, and ensure more efficient fuel distribution amid evolving global energy risks.
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