Parliament Question: Expansion of City Gas Distribution Network

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 6235 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2nd April, 2026 EXPANSION OF CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

6235. SHRI P P CHAUDHARY:

SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

DR. HEMANG JOSHI:

SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR:

DR. MANNA LAL RAWAT:

SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA:

SMT. SANJNA JATAV:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI:

SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:

SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:

SHRI MAHESH KASHYAP:

SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL:

SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:

DR. SANJAY JAISWAL: पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ी

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

(a) whether the Government has undertaken any recent review of the expansion of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in the country with a view to increase access to Piped Natural Gas

(PNG) for households and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for transportation, including areas under Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency and districts of Hazaribagh and Ramgarh;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of Geographical Areas (GAs) authorised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) currently covered under the CGD network in the country, along with the progress made in expansion of the CGD network, including CNG stations and PNG connections during the last three years, year-wise, particularly in Rajasthan and especially in Bharatpur;

(c) whether the Government has identified districts or regions where CGD infrastructure is yet to be operationalised despite allocation under earlier bidding rounds, particularly in Rajasthan, Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency and districts of Hazaribagh and Ramgarh; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to expedite the rollout of gas distribution infrastructure in such areas? ANSWER पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ालय म(cid:336) रा(cid:475)मं(cid:361)ी ((cid:373)ी सुरेश 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 the development of City GasDistribution (CGD) Network, which is carried out by the entities authorized by PNGRB as per their Minimum Work Programme (MWP) and techno-commercial 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 (including the areas under Nabarangpur Lok Sabha Constituency and districts of Hazaribagh and Ramgarh) across the country. The progress of PNG Domestic (D) connections and CNG stations during last 3 years across the country is at Annexure-I.

PNGRB has authorized 17 GAs including (2 GAs spread over Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan; 1 GA spread over Punjab and Rajasthan and 1 GA spread over U.P. and Rajasthan), in the state of Rajasthan. Bharatpur comes under Firozabad (Taj Trapezium Zone) GA which has been authorised by PNGRB to GAIL Gas Limited for development of CGD network. The GA wise detail of PNG

(D) connections and CNG stations, during last three years, in the state of Rajasthan is at Annexure- II.

Nabarangpur is part of Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur districts GA authorised to Adani Total Gas Limited for development of CGD network and 3 CNG stations have been set up in the GA so far. Hazaribagh and Ramgarh is part of Bokaro, Hazaribagh & Ramgarh Districts GA authorised to Indian Oil Corporation Limited for development of CGD network and as on

31.01.2026, the autorised entity has provided 13,653 PNG(D) connections and set up 27 CNG stations in the GA.Progress of CGD networks is regularly monitored based on reports submitted by the CGD entities. If there are any delays or shortfalls, the entities are advised to take corrective action. This includes calling them for progress review meetings or statutory hearings under existing regulations to discuss challenges and the latest updates on their MWP targets in authorized GAs. In addition, Government conducts regular interactions and meetings with State Governments for the development of CGD network in respective States and address challenges in this regard.

Government have taken various steps to ensure the availability of Natural Gas to CNG (Transport)/ PNG (Domestic) sector in 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 have 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.

Recently, a comprehensive control order dated 24.03.2026 has been issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to facilitate time-bound expansion of pipeline infrastructure across the country, especially CGD. The Order provides a uniform framework for grant of right of way (RoW) and permissions by mandating strict timelines, enabling deemed approvals in case of delays, and prohibiting imposition of unauthorised charges by public authorities. It also addresses access issues in residential and private areas by ensuring non-discriminatory and time-bound permissions, thereby removing key bottlenecks in pipeline laying.

****Annexure-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6235 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026 REGARDING EXPANSION OF CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORK.

The progress of PNG Domestic (D) connections and CNG stations during last 3 years across the country S. No. Period PNG (D) Connections CNG Stations

1. March, 2024 1,29,22,516 6,861

2. March, 2025 1,50,41,471 8,067

3. January, 2026 1,62,60,754 8,616 (Source- PNGRB) *****Annexure-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6235 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.04.2026 REGARDING EXPANSION OF CITY GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORK.

The GA wise detail of PNG (D) connections and CNG stations during the last three years in the state of Rajasthan PNG (D) Connection CNG Stations Date of Date of S. Geographical Authorized Target State Authorizatio No. Area CGD Entity Completio n n Mar, Mar, Mar, Jan, Mar, 2025 Jan, 2026 2024 2024 2025 2026 Rajasthan State Kota Rajasthan 01-Jun-09 30-Jun-14 34370 54151 69070 10 12 12 1 Gas Limited Barmer, Jaisalmer AGP CGD India Rajasthan 28-Sep-18 30-Sep-30 50881 51002 51005 39 41 45 2 & Jodhpur Districts Private Limited 27-08-2018 Alwar (Other than Torrent Gas (New start Bhiwadi) & Jaipur Rajasthan Jaipur Private 31-Mar-30 3757 9691 14840 55 61 70 3 date Districts Limited

01.04.2022) Kota District

(EAAA), Baran & Torrent Gas Chittorgarh (Only Rajasthan 13-Sep-18 30-Sep-28 2500 4167 5703 16 17 19 4 Limited Rawatbhata Taluka) Districts Bhilwara &Bundi Adani Total Gas Rajasthan 14-Sep-18 30-Sep-28 1018 1908 4258 17 20 20 5 Districts Limited Chittorgarh (Other than Rawatbhata Adani Total Gas Rajasthan 13-Sep-18 30-Sep-28 2149 17073 24734 38 40 42 6 Taluka) & Udaipur Limited Districts Dholpur CGD Dholpur District Rajasthan 28-Sep-18 30-Sep-28 609 1805 2622 8 8 8 7 Private Limited Jhabua, Banswara, Madhya Ratlam and Pradesh Gujarat Gas 29-Mar-19 31-Mar-29 863 1182 1380 31 33 32 8 Dungarpur and Limited Districts Rajasthan Ajmer, Pali and Indraprastha Gas Rajsamand Rajasthan 29-Mar-19 31-Mar-29 200116 261683 271752 68 83 84 9 Limited Districts Jalore and Sirohi Gujarat Gas Rajasthan 29-Mar-19 31-Mar-29 7237 8430 10129 30 31 32 10 Districts Limited Agar Malwa, Madhya Megha City Gas Neemuch, Pradesh Distribution 15-Mar-22 31-Mar-30 0 0 0 4 5 9 11 Mandsaur and and Private Limited Jhalawar districts RajasthanFazilka (except area already Bharat Petroleum authorized), Punjab & Corporation 04-May-22 30-Jun-30 4842 7067 32594 20 26 32 12 Ganganagar and Rajasthan Limited Hanumangarh districts Bikaner and Churu Gasonet Services Rajasthan 15-Mar-22 31-Mar-30 0 0 0 6 10 11 13 districts (RJ) Limited 23-03-2022 Jhunjhunu, Sikar Indian Oil (New Start and Nagaur Rajasthan Corporation 31-Mar-31 864 5619 6441 12 43 43 14 date districts Limited

01.04.2023) Hindustan Dausa, Karauli, Petroleum Sawai Madhopur Rajasthan 15-Mar-22 31-Mar-30 53 3336 6138 14 43 52

15. Corporation and Tonk districts Limited Haryana City Gas Bhiwadi (in Alwar Distribution Rajasthan 01-Aug-18 30-Sep-25 5419 5914 6789 4 5 5

16. District) (Bhiwadi) Limited Uttar Firozabad (Taj GAIL Gas Pradesh & 26-Sep-11 25-Aug-14 22700 24563 29079 45 48 53

17. Trapezium Zone) Limited Rajasthan Total 337378 457591 5,36,534 417 526 569 (Source- PNGRB) *****