India accelerates LPG to PNG transition and approves ₹7,000 crore pipeline expansion

The Indian government is accelerating the transition from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for households. Under new regulatory frameworks, including the LPG Control Order 2026, residents in areas where PNG infrastructure is available will be prohibited from maintaining both LPG and PNG connections. Petroleum Secretary Neeraj Mittal has requested state and Union Territory governments to appoint district-level nodal officers to coordinate with gas distribution companies and facilitate this shift.

This policy aims to enhance energy security, reduce the logistics burden of transporting LPG, and mitigate supply chain risks highlighted by recent Middle East tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz. To support this transition, the government is establishing PNG Coordination Committees in every geographical area to identify eligible households and issue statutory notices.

Simultaneously, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has approved a ₹7,000 crore expansion of the LPG pipeline network. Managed by GAIL (India) Limited, this 1,800-km project will span six states: Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and Goa. Once completed, the authorized common-carrier LPG pipeline network will expand by approximately 23.5%, increasing from 7,700 km to 9,500 km, thereby reducing reliance on road-based tanker transport.