The gas water system is laid as a partial gas supply in Siddipet. File | Photo credit: MOHD ARIF
Days after the Center urged states to help expand the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network for more users to switch from LPG to piped gas, the Telangana government proposed a series of measures, from easing the approval process, allowing round-the-clock work and waiving certain fees.
CGD entities will be granted permission within 24 hours of their application, failing which it will be “deemed to be permitted” and they can resume work after informing the concerned ministries, the state government said in a circular issued on March 25. Under another enabling proposal, companies would be allowed to dig and recover on their own, eliminating recovery fees. However, the need to provide a bank guarantee up to a maximum of ₹10 lakh per kilometer.
The state government has also decided to waive the lease/hire charges for laying/operating the CGD network while allowing the companies to carry out works including pipe laying and construction activities 24 hours a day subject to compliance with noise norms.
“All seasonal restrictions for carrying out (work) related to CGD are relaxed with the CGD entity responsible for implementing appropriate safety and environmental measures,” the GO said, paving the way for work to commence even during the next monsoon, according to a senior oil industry official. Time-wise, up to September 30, the measures take on significance as expansion of the CGD network would pave the way for a reduction in LPG consumption and imports in the long run – India imports 60% of its LPG requirement.
In the near future, the implementation of the facilitating measure would translate into an additional 10% allocation of commercial LPG by the centre. LPG supplies to commercial users have come under pressure since the outbreak of war in West Asia at the end of February, which affected imports and the government’s preference for supplies to domestic consumers. The Center has capped commercial LPG allocations to states at 50%, with a portion tied to measures to facilitate the long-term transition to PNG.
Committees of officials are also set up at the state and district levels to deal with approving CGD applications and redress grievances. The Chief Secretary will be the Chairman of the 16-member State Level CGD Expansion Committee with CS MA&UD Special Department as the Member-Convenor.
Promoting the use of pipeline natural gas has become critical as PNG is widely available in the country. There are five Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) approved CGD entities operating in Telangana. They have been assigned GAs or geographic areas and count households, motorists and industries among their customers. The state has 1.03 lakh domestic PNG connections. The daily sales of commercial PNG is 6,108 cubic meters, while the volume of industrial PNG is 2.87 million cubic meters. There are up to 226 CNG stations.
Published – 27 March 2026 21:16 IST
