New Delhi, Delhi, 28th of March 2026 : 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 and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of essential services.
The meeting was graced by Hon’ble Union Ministers from the Ministries of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), and Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution (MoCAFPD), along with Secretaries, senior officials from the Government of India, Hon’ble State Ministers, State Secretaries from Urban Development and Food & Civil Supplies Departments, Municipal Commissioners, CMDs of GAIL, Indian Oil and representatives of City Gas Distribution (CGD) units.
Hon’ble Ministers from several States, including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana and Odisha participated in person, while representatives from Telangana, Karnataka and Rajasthan joined virtually in the roundtable session.
Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, highlighted the growing urban energy demand and underscored the need for efficient service delivery alongside expansion of clean energy access.
A detailed 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, which continue to impede timely network expansion.
The Hon’ble Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal underscored the critical role of cities as engines of economic growth and called for mission-mode implementation to accelerate PNG expansion. He outlined key priorities, including 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 highlighted.
Addressing the gathering, the Hon’ble Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the evolving global energy landscape and stressed the importance of strengthening PNG infrastructure to enhance energy security and resilience. He encouraged States and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to actively promote PNG adoption, particularly in areas where infrastructure is already available.
The Hon’ble Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Pralhad Joshi emphasised the need to maintain uninterrupted essential supplies, curb misinformation, and prevent black marketing of fuel. He advised States to strengthen monitoring and vigilance mechanisms and to encourage consumers to transition from LPG to PNG wherever feasible, with priority given to public institutions such as schools and colleges.
Deliberations during the roundtable highlighted several best practices, including fast-tracking of road-cutting permissions and adoption of deemed approval mechanisms to expedite project implementation. However, concerns were raised regarding high RoW charges and procedural delays. Participants stressed the need for rationalisation or temporary waiver of such charges and adoption of single-window, time-bound clearance systems.
State representatives shared their experiences and emphasised the importance of enhanced coordination among Urban Development Departments, Municipal bodies, and Food & Civil Supplies Departments for seamless implementation. There was broad consensus on facilitating a phased and structured transition from LPG to PNG in areas with existing infrastructure, supported by adequate consumer awareness and safeguards to prevent disruption of essential services.
States and ULBs agreed to streamline approval processes, rationalise RoW charges, and designate nodal officers for effective coordination. CGD entities and Municipal Commissioners committed to closer collaboration to resolve operational challenges and enhance service delivery.
Post roundtable meeting, a break-out session between CGD entities and Municipal Commissioners organised which focused on city-specific issues, identifying key bottlenecks and pending approvals. It was agreed to adopt a structured action plan with defined timelines, establish local task teams and implement regular monitoring and review mechanisms to ensure accountability and timely progress in PNG network expansion.
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