Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar was addressing the media at the Secretariat in Amaravati on Thursday. Civil Supplies Commissioner Saurav Gaur is seen.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday decided to push for the use of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) as a substitute for LPG cylinders across the state.
Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting, Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar said the government’s aim is to ensure uninterrupted gas supply through the PNG connection.
Under this initiative, the government would encourage households currently using LPG cylinders in major cities like Guntur, Nellore, Kakinada and Visakhapatnam to switch to PNG. The minister said that PNG offers uninterrupted supply and is more advantageous especially for apartments and industrial units. He added that users receiving PNG can also benefit from incentives provided by the central government.
The cabinet also directed that PNG facilities be introduced in major temples across the state. Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Manohar noted, had a comparative advantage over other states in implementing this system. However, he pointed out that the increase in GST from 5% to 25% has deterred potential users from opting for PNG.
“To encourage take-up, the government plans to extend the Deepam subsidy scheme to PNG subscribers,” he said. “Currently, beneficiaries get a free LPG cylinder once every four months. Under the new proposal, financial assistance corresponding to this benefit will be shared every two months to PNG users. In addition, those who switch to piped gas will be given a direct benefit transfer (DBT) amount of ₹ 2,400, equivalent to the cost of three LPG cylinders,” the minister said.
Mr. Manohar also announced that approval for PNG pipeline laying will be granted within 24 hours or processed automatically. “The government has set a target of providing 10 million new connections to PNG with plans to deliver one million connections in the next month,” he said.
Dismissing the concerns raised on social media, Mr. Manohar clarified that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the state.
He said that around 2.7 lakh LPG cylinders were supplied daily. He further added that induction cookers have been distributed to Anganwadi centers with the support of the center and the process has continued.
Calling it a first-of-its-kind policy in the country, the minister expressed confidence that the shift to PNG will increase convenience, efficiency and sustainability in gas utilization in Andhra Pradesh.
Published – 26 March 2026 20:53 IST
