Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has extended National Piped Natural Gas (PNG) Drive 2.0 till 30 June 2026 (earlier deadline: March 31, 2026). This is a move to accelerate clean energy adoption and strengthen India’s gas-based economy.
The extension aims to sustain momentum in PNG expansion amid global geopolitical disruptions affecting energy supply chains and domestic LPG shortages, while pushing city gas distribution (CGD) entities to scale up connections across the country.
Key Highlights
- Objective: Increase share of natural gas to 15% in India’s energy mix
- Focus on expanding PNG and CGD infrastructure across urban and new regions
- Directed CGD entities to accelerate domestic PNG connections
Background of National PNG Drive
Launched in January 2026, the initiative aims to:
- Expand City Gas Distribution (CGD) infrastructure
- Achieve time-bound rollout of:
- PNG-D (domestic)
- PNG-C (commercial)
- CNG stations
It targets:
- 37 new geographical areas (GAs) not connected to pipelines
- 44 districts without PNG connectivity
Progress Achieved So Far
- 6.5 lakh additional domestic PNG infrastructure created
- Gas supply started for:
- 5.29 lakh domestic consumers
- 2,457 commercial consumers
- 11 new GAs connected, total reaching 250 GAs linked to trunk pipeline
- Over 10,000 new PNG connections daily (target to increase further)
Policy Measures and Compliance Push
LPG–PNG Integration Strategy
The government has introduced reforms to address LPG shortages and boost PNG:
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order
- Linking commercial LPG allocation with CGD expansion
- This has accelerated infrastructure growth and last-mile connectivity.
Institutional Coordination
- Collaboration between:
- Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
- PNGRB
- Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
- State governments and urban bodies
- Focus on integrating urban planning with gas infrastructure development.
Priority and Consumer Support
- Priority PNG connections for:
- Households
- Hostels, canteens, hotels, hospitals
- Temporary suspension of imbalance charges to improve network efficiency
Real-Time Monitoring and Implementation
- PNGRB mandates real-time reporting via digital portal
- Daily supply ensured for:
- 10,000+ households
- 50+ commercial establishments
- Ensures transparency, accountability, and faster rollout.
About PNGRB
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is a statutory body established under the PNGRB Act, 2006.
Functions:
- Regulates refining, transportation, distribution, storage, and marketing of petroleum and natural gas
- Ensures fair competition and consumer protection
- In 2023, PNGRB collaborated with the World Bank on a roadmap for hydrogen blending in gas pipelines.