Roundtable on PNG expansion focuses on infrastructure growth and essential service delivery
A Roundtable Review Meeting on “Expansion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) Services and Maintaining Essential Services” in urban areas was held today at Vigyan Bhavan, bringing together key stakeholders to deliberate on accelerating PNG network expansion across urban India while ensuring uninterrupted delivery of essential services.
The meeting was attended by Union Ministers from the Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (MoCAFPD), along with Secretaries and senior officials of the Government of India. State Ministers, State Secretaries from Urban Development and Food & Civil Supplies Departments, Municipal Commissioners, CMDs of GAIL and Indian Oil, and representatives of City Gas Distribution (CGD) units were also present. Ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Odisha attended in person, while Telangana, Karnataka, and Rajasthan participated virtually.
During the session, the Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs highlighted the rising urban energy demand and the need for efficient service delivery alongside the expansion of clean energy access. A presentation by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas outlined the current status of PNG rollout, emphasising its advantages over LPG in terms of safety, reliability, affordability, and environmental sustainability. Key challenges identified included delays in municipal permissions, Right of Way (RoW) approvals, and high restoration charges that impede timely network expansion.
The Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs underscored the role of cities as engines of economic growth and called for mission-mode implementation to accelerate PNG expansion. Priorities highlighted included institutionalisation of single-window approvals, integration of PNG infrastructure into urban planning, facilitation of last-mile connectivity, and convergence with ongoing urban development initiatives. An ambitious target of providing 50 lakh new PNG connections was also set.
The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas highlighted the evolving global energy landscape and stressed the importance of strengthening PNG infrastructure to enhance energy security and resilience. States and Urban Local Bodies were encouraged to actively promote PNG adoption, particularly in areas where infrastructure already exists.
The Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution emphasised the need to maintain uninterrupted essential supplies, curb misinformation, and prevent black marketing of fuel. States were urged to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and encourage consumers to transition from LPG to PNG, prioritising public institutions such as schools and colleges.
The roundtable discussions highlighted best practices such as fast-tracking road-cutting permissions and adopting deemed approval mechanisms to expedite projects. Participants stressed the need to rationalise or temporarily waive RoW charges and implement single-window, time-bound clearance systems. State representatives emphasised enhanced coordination among Urban Development Departments, Municipal bodies, and Food & Civil Supplies Departments to ensure seamless implementation.
Post the roundtable, a breakout session between CGD entities and Municipal Commissioners addressed city-specific issues, identified key bottlenecks, and pending approvals. A structured action plan with defined timelines, local task teams, and regular monitoring mechanisms was agreed upon to ensure accountability and timely progress in PNG network expansion.
