Lok Sabha Question No. 820 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: City Gas Distribution Network
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, M. UDHAYAKUMAR, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, DHARMENDRA YADAV, KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 820

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## City Gas Distribution Network

820. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: SHRI V. ELUMALAI: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS पेट्रोल ियम और प्राक ृ तिक गैस मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the existing Geographical Areas (GAs) cover 130 districts spread over 24 States and Union  Territories  (UTs)  covering  a  population  of  24  crore  which  is  19  per  cent  of  country's population and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  organized  roadshows  for  ninth  City  Gas  Distribution  (CGD) bidding round and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to cover more households through PNG network;
- (c) whether after the completion of gas distribution projects in various GAs the gas distribution is likely to cover half of the total population in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the number of districts covered under GAs after award of the gas projects;
- (d) the time by which all districts would be covered under GAs and target if any, fixed by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) whether the Government has opened for Bidding the biggest CGD licensing round offering 86  permits  for  selling  CNG/PNG  in  174  districts  in  22  States  and  UTs  and  if  so,  the  details thereof along with quantum of investments likely to be made in the said bidding round?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board (PNGRB)  authorizes  entities  to  develop Natural  Gas  Distribution  Network  as  per  PNGRB  Act,  2006  and  the  Regulations  notified thereunder.  PNGRB  identifies  the  Geographical  Areas  (GAs)  for  the development  of  City Gas Distribution (CGD) network depending on the natural gas pipeline connectivity/natural gas

availability  and  techno-commercial  viability.  As  on  30.06.2018,  PNGRB  has  authorized  91 Geographical  Areas  (GAs)  to  various  entities  across  23  states/Union  Territories  (UTs)  for development of CGD Network in the country and covers population of about 24 crore, which is more than 19% of the country's population.

(b) In  order  to  expand  the  coverage  of  CGD  network,  PNGRB  has  launched  9 th round  of CGD bidding on 8 th May, 2018 inviting bids for 86 GAs covering 174 districts (156 complete and  18  part)  spread  over  22  states  and  Union  Territories  (UTs)  in  the  country.  PNGRB  has organized  roadshows  in  this  regard  at  Delhi,  Dehradun,  Bhopal,  Bhubaneshwar,  Chandigarh, Kochi,  Lucknow,  Patna,  Chennai,  Jaipur,  Guwahati  and  Hyderabad  and  Investors  Meet  at Ahmedabad & Bengaluru across India and internationally in Dubai during May-June 2018.

(c)  &  (d)      As  on  30 th June,  2018,  PNGRB  has  authorized  91  Geographical  Areas  (GAs)  to various entities in the Country for development of CGD Network. On authorization of 86 GAs offered under 9 th CGD bidding round, about 50% of the country's population would have access to CGD Network covering 276 full districts and 10-part districts. PNGRB identifies the GAs for the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network depending on the natural gas pipeline connectivity/natural  gas  availability  and  techno-commercial  viability  and  subject  to  it  balance districts be bidded.

(e) Ninth round CGD bidding covers 174 districts spread over 22 States/UTs. PNGRB has indicated an estimated investment of about ₹ 70,000 crore over a period of 8 years.