Lok Sabha Question No. 745 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: CNG Distribution
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Kota Srinivasa Poojary

## LOK SABHA

TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th  December, 2025

## CNG DISTRIBUTION

## 745. SHRI KOTA SRINIVASA POOJARY:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  poor  rickshaw  drivers  and  light  vehicle  owners whouse CNG are queuing up in kilometer-long queues in front of petrol pumps, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the reasons for the delay in providing a new agency even though distributors are waiting for additional CNG distribution;
- (c) the plan of the Union Government to provide full distribution to the minimum number of CNG distributors; and
- (d) the reasons for the delay in installing the LNG pipeline through Kudremukh in Karnataka?

## 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) Establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations is part of the development of City  Gas  Distribution  (CGD)  Network  and  the  same  is  carried  out  by  the  CGD  entities authorized by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) as per their Minimum Work Programme (MWP). After the completion of the 12/12A CGD bidding round, PNGRB has authorized entities for development of CGD network in 307 Geographical Areas (GAs), covering the entire mainland area for the development of CGD network across the country.

As per the MWP, the authorized entities are committed to establish 18,336 CNG stations across the country by 2034. As on 30.09.2025, the entities have established 8,357 CNG Stations against the  pro-rata  target  of  establishing  5,826  CNG  Stations.  CGD  entities  are  continuously  adding new  CNG  stations,  including  through  company-owned  company-operated  (COCO),  dealerowned  dealer-operated  (DODO)  etc.,  based  on  their  MWP  and  on  the  basis  of  technocommercial feasibility, demand and availability of natural gas. A large number of CNG outlets have been set up at existing Retail Outlets of OMCs.

Further,  as  informed  by  CGD  entities,  occasional  queues  are  observed  in  the  Retail  Outlets during  peak  hours  due  to  sudden  demand  surges  or  operational  constraints;  however,  CGD entities  arecontinuously  taking  measures  to  enhance  CNG  station  efficiency  by  installing adequate  dispenser  units  and  ensuring  better  coordination  of  gas  supplies  to  reduce  customer wait  times.  Further,  PNGRB  has  advised  the  CGD entities  to  upgrade  their  Daughter  Booster

Station (DBS) CNG stations to Online stations. The Online CNG station helps in faster filling of vehicles and thereby resulting in reduction of queuing.

Governmentalso  monitors  the  progress  of  CGD  networks  based  on  reports  submitted  by  the entities.  If  there  are  any  delays  or  shortfalls,  the  PNGRB  advises  the  entity  to  take  corrective action.  This  includes  calling  them  for  progress  review  meetings  or  statutory  hearings  under existing  regulations  to  discuss  challenges  and  the  latest  updates  on  their  MWP  targets  in authorized GAs.

With  the  aim  to  increase  the  availability  of  natural  gas  across  the  Country,  PNGRB  has authorized approximately 34,233 km length of Natural Gas Pipeline Network across the Country to  create  a  national  gas  gridand  to  implement  'One  Nation  One  Gas  Grid'.  The  length  of operational  pipeline  is  25,429  Kms  in  June,  2025.  10,459  Kms  length  of  pipelines  is  under various  stages  of  construction.  In  addition  to  this,  CGD  entities  have  laid  6,20,428  Inch-Km pipeline to cover their local network within their respective GAs.

Kudremukh  falls  in  Chikkamagaluru  district  which  is  a  part  of  Chikkamagaluru,  Hassan  and Kodagu Districts GA. The GA has been authorized to AGP City Gas Private Limited (AGP) for development  of  CNG  network.  Supply  of  natural  gas  to  the  said  GA  is  being  done  through Dabhol-Bangalore Natural Gas Pipeline which is operational. Development of local distribution pipeline network inside the GA limits for the transmission of natural gas is being done by the authorized CGD entity. As per MWP, AGP has to establish 121 CNG stations and lay 1,187 inchkm pipeline in the GA by 2029. As on 30.09.2025, against the pro-rata target of establishing 59 CNG stations and laying 742 inch-km pipeline, AGP has established 22 CNG stations and laid 972 inch-km pipeline in the aforesaid GA.

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