Lok Sabha Question No. 2196 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-12
Subject: Coverage and Expansion of City Gas Distribution Networks
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Tejasvi Surya

## LOK SABHA

## COVERAGE AND EXPANSION OF CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

## 2196. SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:

## पेट Ō ोिलयम और Ůाक ृ ितक गैस मंũी

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

(a) whether City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks have covered the targeted geographical areas and population  across  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  timelines  set  and  progress achieved;

(b) the number of households currently availing services under CGD networks across the country, State/UT-wise particularly in Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural and other major cities along with the year-wise growth trends and expansion timelines;

(c) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment regarding the environmental, economic, social  and  other  impacts  arising  from  the  usage  of  Compressed  Natural  Gas  (CNG)  and  Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government has conducted any study or assessment on the challenges, barriers or resistance faced in the adoption and expansion of CGD networks and if so, the details thereof?

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) Providing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections, establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations and laying of pipeline infrastructure is part of development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) Networks and the same is carried out by the entities authorized by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory  Board  (PNGRB)  as  per  their  Minimum  Work  Programme  (MWP)  and  technocommercial feasibility.

After completion of 12/12A  CGD  bidding  round,  PNGRB  has  authorized  entities for the development of CGD network in 307 Geographical Areas (GAs), covering the entire mainland area for the development of CGD network across the country.The expansion and roll out of CGD network is a continuous process. As per MWP target, authorised entities have to provide approx. 12.6 crore PNG connections, 18,336 CNG Stations and 5.46 lakh inch-km pipeline by 2034. As on 30.11.2025, the authorized entities have provided 1.58 crore PNG Domestic (PNG (D)) connections, 8,456 CNG Stations and laid 6.29 lakh inch-km pipeline.State/UT-wise progress of PNG(D) connections during the last three years across the country is at Annexure-I .

Bengaluru  Rural  and  Urban  Districts  GA  has  been  authorized  by  PNGRB  toGAIL  Gas  Limited (GGL). As per the MWP, GGL has to provide 1,31,156 PNG (D) connections and lay 1,582 inch-km pipeline in the GA by 2020. As on 30.11.2025, GGL has provided 2,95,294 PNG(D) connections and laid 5,881 inch-km pipeline in the said GA.The progress of PNG(D) connectionsduring the last three years  in  Bengaluru  Rural  and  Urban  Districts  GA  and  other  major  cities  (Delhi,  Mumbai,  Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai etc.) is at Annexure-II .

Consumption of natural gas is impacted by its price vis-a-vis alternate fuels and cost associated with its  transportation  across  the  country.  Gas  prices  are  dependent  on  various  factors  viz.  domestic production, international availability, etc. Further, as informed by authorized CGD entities, the major impediments  in  adoption  of  PNG  are  delay  ingrant  of  permissions  by  the  statutory  authorities/ bodies, higher Rightof Use/Right of Work Charges, lack of state policy for CGD and higherVAT on CNG / PNG etc.

Consumption of natural gas not only enhances environmental sustainability as it is a cleaner and lowemitting fuel vis-a-vis other fossil fuels but also ensures energy security by allowing (i) the country to diversify its energy mix and thereby reduce its reliance on imported oil and coal and (ii) reduce its vulnerability to the volatility of the international market.

Government have taken various steps to increase adoption and expansion of CGD network across the country which, inter-alia, includes allocating domestic gas on priority basis to CNG (T)/ PNG(D); diverting  domestic  gas  from  non-priority  sectors  to  meet  the  requirement  for  CNG  (T)/PNG(D) sector, expansion of CGD network, grant of Public Utility Status to CGD projects, notification for supply  of  domestic  gas  through  available  mode  (including  cascade  mode)  for  CNG(T)/  PNG(D) purpose,  allocating  domestic  natural  gas  for  CNG  (T)  and  PNG  (D)  segments  on  a  two-quarter advance basis, expansion of National Gas Grid Pipeline, setting up of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminals,  Sustainable  Alternative  Towards  Affordable  Transportation  (SATAT)  initiatives  to promote  Bio-CNG,  etc.  Government  has  also  notified  that  gas  produced  from  discoveries  in Deepwater, Ultra Deepwater and High Pressure-High Temperature areas, in any situation which may require proportionate distribution of the gas offered under the bidding process, the contractor shall offer gas to bidders belonging to CNG (T)/ PNG (D) sector on priority.

Further, PNGRB, has rationalised the Unified Tariff by reducing tariff zones from three to two and notified transportation tariffs of Rs. 54/MMBTU for Zone-1 (up to 300 km) and Rs. 102.86/MMBTU for Zone-2 (beyond 300 km), effective from 01.01.2026. Zone-1 tariff has been extended nationwide for CNG (T) and PNG (D), resulting in nearly 50% reduction in transportation charges for consumers beyond 300 km. This reform further improves affordability and equity in access to natural gas.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2196  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  12.02.2026  REGARDING  COVERAGE  AND EXPANSION OF CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS.

State/UT-wise progress of PNG(D) connections during the last three years across the country

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| State/UT                        | As on 31.03.2024   | As on 31.03.2025   | As on 30.11.2025   |
|---------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh                  | 2,75,517           | -                  | -                  |
| Arunachal Pradesh               | 0                  | -                  | -                  |
| Assam                           | 58,474             | 67,830             | 71,686             |
| Bihar                           | 1,62,171           | 2,51,955           | 2,90,060           |
| Chandigarh                      | 26,845             | 30,316             | 31,956             |
| Chhattisgarh                    | 3,499              | 11,002             | 16,443             |
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli, Daman &Diu | 17,560             | 19,034             | 19,680             |
| Delhi                           | 15,64,294          | 17,23,294          | 18,14,443          |
| Goa                             | 13,598             | 18,865             | 19,629             |
| Gujarat                         | 32,88,498          | 35,79,961          | 37,43,703          |
| Haryana                         | 3,96,852           | 4,99,489           | 5,41,169           |
| Himachal Pradesh                | 7,715              | 9,926              | 12,097             |
| Jharkhand                       | 1,40,014           | 1,75,143           | 1,85,462           |
| Karnataka                       | 4,41,432           | 5,01,910           | 5,54,114           |
| Kerala                          | 76,894             | 1,37,524           | 1,52,869           |
| Madhya Pradesh                  | 2,39,468           | 2,89,948           | 3,18,719           |
| Maharashtra                     | 36,17,571          | 42,50,826          | 44,49,797          |
| Manipur                         | -                  | -                  | -                  |
| Meghalaya                       | -                  | -                  | -                  |
| Mizoram                         | -                  | -                  | -                  |
| Nagaland                        | -                  | -                  | -                  |
| Odisha                          | 1,21,446           | 1,61,281           | 1,76,588           |
| Puducherry                      | -                  | -                  | -                  |
| Punjab                          | 87,548             | 1,08,161           | 1,28,687           |
| Rajasthan                       | 3,20,845           | 4,38,939           | 4,87,438           |
| Sikkim                          | -                  | -                  | -                  |
| Tamil Nadu                      | 30,525             | 79,218             | 1,18,905           |
| Telangana                       | 2,11,940           | 2,36,044           | 2,57,775           |
| Tripura                         | 62,136             | 66,139             | 68,252             |
| UT of Jammu &Kashmir            | -                  | -                  | -                  |
| UT of Ladakh                    | -                  | -                  | -                  |
| Uttar Pradesh                   | 16,50,326          | 19,35,296          | 20,94,188          |
| Uttarakhand                     | 82,704             | 88,953             | 91,352             |
| West Bengal                     | 24,644             | 74,992             | 1,21,210           |
| Grand Total                     | 1,29,22,516        | 1,50,41,471        | 1,60,61,757        |

(Source:PNGRB)

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2196 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 REGARDING COVERAGE AND EXPANSION OF CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS.

## The progress of PNG(D) connections during the last three years in Bengaluru Rural and Urban Districts GA and other major cities.

| S.N o   | Uniq ue GA   | Geographical Area/ CGD Networks                                                                 | State/Union Territory                    | AuthorizedCGD Entity                | Date of Authorization                  | Date of Target   | PNG Domestic Connections   | PNG Domestic Connections   | PNG Domestic Connections   |
|---------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|
|         | ID           |                                                                                                 |                                          |                                     |                                        | Completion       | 2023-24                    | 2024-25                    | 2025-26 (as on 30.11.2025) |
| 1.      | 4.01         | Bengaluru Rural and Urban Districts                                                             | Karnataka                                | GAIL Gas Limited                    | 18-02- 2015                            | 31-03-2020       | 259287                     | 276829                     | 295294                     |
| 2.      | 99.01        | National Capital Territory of Delhi                                                             | National Capital Territory of Delhi (UT) | Indraprastha Gas Limited            | 09-01-2009                             | 31-03-2012       | 1564294                    | 1723294                    | 1814443                    |
| 3.      | 99.02        | Mumbai &Greater Mumbai                                                                          | Maharashtra                              | Mahanagar Gas Limited               | 21-01-2009                             | 31-03-2012       | 1257250                    | 1396207                    | 1449781                    |
| 4.      | 99.05        | Pune City including Pimpri - Chichwad& adjoining contigeneous areas Hinjewadi, Chakan, Talegaon | Maharashtra                              | Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited     | 01-06-2009                             | 30-06-2014       | 632681                     | 779632                     | 816759                     |
| 5.      | 99.09        | Hyderabad                                                                                       | Telangana                                | Bhagyanagar Gas Limited             | 09-10-2009                             | 31-12-2014       | 192762                     | 215698                     | 236553                     |
| 6.      | 9.62         | Chennai &Tiruvallur Districts                                                                   | Tamil Nadu                               | Torrent Gas Chennai Private Limited | 07-09-2018                             | 31-03-2030       | 323                        | 2383                       | 4388                       |
| 7.      | 99.14        | Kolkata Muncipal Corporation and Parts of Adjoining Districts                                   | West Bengal                              | Bengal Gas Company Limited          | 02-02-2016 (New start date 01.01.2022) | 31-12-2026       | 5124                       | 5297                       | 5347                       |

(Source: PNGRB)