Lok Sabha Question No. 3158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-18
Subject: Strengthening City Gas Distribution and National Gas Grid Connectivity
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Alok Sharma, Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya, Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3158

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18 th  December, 2025

## STRENGTHENING CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION AND NATIONAL GAS GRID CONNECTIVITY

## † 3158. SHRI ALOK SHARMA:

SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  progress  made  in  the  expansion  of  the  National  Gas  Grid  during  the  last  five  years including the total length of operational and under-construction pipelines;
- (b)  the  current  status  of  connecting  all  the  States  and  Union  Territories  to  the  National  Gas Pipeline Network and the plan and timelines for connecting the remaining areas;
- (c) the details of steps taken to ensure reliable Piped Natural Gas (PNG) supply particularly in remote, hilly and North-Eastern States; and
- (d)  the  number  of  Geographical  Areas  currently  connected  to  trunk  pipelines  for  City  Gas Distribution operations and the measures being taken to accelerate Geographical  area-wise connectivity in areas not yet covered?

## ANSWER

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũालय मŐ राǛमंũी ( ŵी सुरे श गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a)  to  (d)  The  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board  (PNGRB)  is  the  authority responsible  for  authorizing  entities  to  lay,  build,  operate  and  expand  Natural  Gas  Pipelines (NGPL) in the country. As on September, 2025, PNGRB has authorized approximately 34,238 km of NGPL network, comprising common carrier pipelines, spur lines, tie-in connectivity and dedicated pipelines, for the development of the National Gas Gridto be completed within periods as  specified  in  the  PNGRB  authorization.  Out  of  this,  about  25,923  km  has  been  made operational.  During  the  last  five  years,  approximately  5,201  km  of  natural  gas  pipelines  have been operationalized.

At  present,  all  States  and  Union  Territories,  except  Ladakh,  Andaman  &  Nicobar  Islands  and Lakshadweep, are covered under the Natural Gas Pipeline Network authorized by PNGRB.

In order to ensure availability of natural gas in the North-Eastern region, PNGRB has authorized M/s Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) to lay, build, operate and expand the North-East Natural  Gas  Grid  (NEGG)  connecting  the  States  of  Assam,  Arunachal  Pradesh,  Manipur, Mizoram,  Nagaland,  Tripura,  Meghalaya  and  Sikkim.  PNGRB  has  granted  an  extension  for completion of the NEGG project up to 31.03.2026.

Provision  of  Piped  Natural  Gas  (PNG)  connections  and  laying  of  pipeline  infrastructure  form part of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network development, which is undertaken by PNGRBauthorized entities in accordance with their respective Minimum Work Programme (MWP).

After  completion  of  the  12th  and  12A  CGD  bidding  rounds,  PNGRB  has  authorized  CGD networks  in  307  Geographical  Areas  (GAs),  covering  the  entire  mainland  of  the  country, (including  remote,  hilly  and  North-Eastern  States).  As  per  the  approved  MWPs,  authorized entities are required to provide approximately 12.6 crore PNG (Domestic) connections and lay about  5.46  lakh  inch-km  of  pipeline  infrastructure  by  the  year  2034.  As  on  30.09.2025,  more than 1.55 crore PNG (Domestic) connections have been provided and over 6.2 lakh inch-km of pipelines have been laid across the country.

Out of the total 307 GAs authorized by PNGRB, 222 GAs arepresently connected through trunk pipelines.

The Government have taken several steps to ensure reliable supply of PNG across the country, which,  inter  alia,  include  priority  allocation  of  domestic  natural  gas  to  CNG  (Transport)  and PNG  (Domestic)  sectors; diversion of domestic gas from non-priority sectors to meet requirements of these priority segments; expansion of the CGD network and the National Gas Grid; establishment of LNG terminals; and promotion of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) under the SATAT initiative. Further, gas produced from discoveries in Deepwater, Ultra Deepwater and High  Pressure-High  Temperature  areas  has  also  been  mandated  to  be  offered  on  priority  to bidders  from  the  CNG  (Transport)  and  PNG  (Domestic)  sectors,  wherever  proportionate distribution is required.

In addition, various measures have been taken to accelerate GA-wise connectivity, including in remote, hilly and North-Eastern regions. These include notification enabling supply of domestic gas for PNG through available modes, including cascade mode; grant of Public Utility Status to CGD projects;  issuance  of  guidelines  for  provision  of  PNG  in  Defence  residential  areas  and units;  advisory  to  Public  Sector  Enterprises  to  incorporate  PNG  provision  in  their  residential complexes;  and  mandatory  provision  of  PNG  in  Government  residential  complexes  being developed by CPWD and NBCC.

Government and PNGRB regularly monitor the progress of CGD network implementation based on  periodic  reports  submitted  by  authorized  entities.  In  case  of  delays  or  shortfalls,  PNGRB advises  entities  to  take  corrective  measures,  including  through  progress  review  meetings  and statutory  hearings  under  existing  regulations.  The  Government  also  continuously  coordinates with concerned State Governments and executing agencies to address challenges and expedite implementation of the National Gas Grid.

****