SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has reported that Indiaβs City Gas Distribution (CGD) network now spans 307 Geographical Areas, covering nearly the entire country across 784 districts in 34 States and Union Territories. The regulator has set Minimum Work Programme targets for 2034, including 12.63 crore PNG domestic connections, 18,336 CNG stations, and 5.46 lakh inch-km of pipelines.
Regulatory measures such as granting CGD public utility status, mandating piped natural gas (PNG) provisions in government housing, and rationalising supply approvals are intended to improve affordability and uptake. Several states, including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, have recently reduced VAT on natural gas to encourage adoption. In FY 2024β25 alone, India added 1,206 CNG stations and nearly 21 lakh PNG households, while CNG vehicle registrations rose by 25 percent to 81.95 lakh.
PNGRB is working with states to develop dedicated CGD policies, 11 States and UTs have notified such frameworks to streamline approvals and accelerate household coverage, positioning gas as a cleaner component of Indiaβs energy mix.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: What governance mechanisms are needed at the state level to ensure that notified CGD policies translate into timely execution, especially in regions with weak administrative capacity?
Follow the full news here:
https://pngrb.gov.in/pdf/press-note/20250827_PR.pdf