The ministry’s push to expand natural gas (PNG) pipelines aims to ease some of the pressure on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), whose supplies have been affected by ongoing tensions in West Asia. File image for representation only. | Photo credit: The Hindu
Citing the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) introduced reforms to ease measures to expand the pipeline gas network – both domestic and commercial – in a bid to accelerate pressure on pipeline natural gas (PNG).
The ministry stressed that the reforms were aimed at “addressing delays in approvals and land access and enabling faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas”, along with creating an investor-friendly network and improving last-mile connectivity.
It also seeks to reduce the “compliance burden” through simplified procedures and clearer documentation requirements.
The ministry’s push to expand natural gas (PNG) pipelines aims to ease some of the pressure on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), whose supplies have been affected by ongoing tensions in West Asia.
However, as officials point out during daily inter-ministerial briefings on the ongoing conflict, current domestic LPG production accounts for 50-60% of consumption.
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More pressure on PNG
In fact, in the recent past, to ease commercial operations and enable incentivized switchover to piped gas, the ministry has allowed additional commercial cylinder allocation of up to 50%, which includes a 10% quantum contingent on States and Union Territories working towards pipeline gas network development. CGDs have also sought to provide incentives such as free gas up to ₹500 and/or waiver of security and registration fees for domestic consumers.
Further, it is important to note that The Hindu has learned from senior officials that India has the potential to add 15 million new PNG connections in the next two weeks. They said addressing last-mile connectivity amid unfavorable urban infrastructure in certain areas was among the major hurdles being quickly addressed during the recent push.
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Clearer timelines, procedures
The guideline highlights specific deadlines ranging from ten days – for laying steel pipes or PE pipes to sixty days for laying steel pipe pipelines with a diameter greater than 20 inches and a distance of more than 10 km.
In addition, in non-residential public spaces, the Gazette seeks to ensure that the application is “deemed approved” in the event that the concerned entity (could be central government, state government or municipal authorities) does not refuse or grant permission to lay the pipe within the specified time limits.
Finally, in a major move towards ease of doing business, the directive introduces a compensation and recovery mechanism for “dig and restore” as well as “dig and pay” to avoid disputes with local authorities.
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Permit for laying pipes in residential areas within three days
The Gazette directive emphasizes that in residential areas, the relevant entities would have to grant the necessary permission to “lay, construct or extend” the pipeline within three days of receiving the application. Further, they would have forty-eight hours to grant approval for the last mile connection.
More importantly, the provision stipulates that LPG supply to households in the area will be stopped within three months of the CGDs being formally informed that the applications have not been granted the necessary permissions.
It is important to note here that the supply will not be terminated if the CGD entity issues a no-object certification (NOC) stating that it is “technically impossible for the authorized person (i.e. CGD) to provide piped natural gas connection to such households”.
(With inputs from Nistula Hebbar)
Published – 25 March 2026 08:58 IST
