LPG supply to be cut off if households refuse switch to PNG where available: Govt order

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 25, 2026: Households located in areas where piped natural gas (PNG) connectivity is available will no longer receive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders if they fail to switch within three months, under a new government order aimed at accelerating gas network expansion and strengthening energy security.

The measure comes at a time when India is facing tight LPG supplies due to disruptions linked to the war in West Asia, which has impacted shipments from key producing regions.

According to the order, the government is encouraging households and commercial establishments to transition to PNG, describing it as a more convenient fuel option that benefits from diversified sourcing as well as domestic production.

PNG is delivered directly to kitchens through pipelines, eliminating the need to book LPG cylinder refills.

The government believes that shifting consumers in pipeline-connected regions to PNG will help redirect limited LPG supplies to areas where pipeline infrastructure is not yet available.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026, with the objective of fast-tracking infrastructure development and simplifying regulatory approvals for pipeline projects.

As per the order, LPG supply “shall cease after three months" if households do not apply for a PNG connection despite the availability of the pipeline network.

However, the order provides an exemption where an authorised entity certifies that it is “technically infeasible" to provide piped connectivity.

In such cases, the supply of LPG cylinders can continue based on a no-objection certificate (NOC).

The policy aims to promote “fuel diversification" while easing pressure on LPG availability amid global supply challenges, including disruptions to liquefaction infrastructure in the Gulf region and the continued blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.

The order, issued under the Essential Commodities Act, seeks to accelerate the expansion of pipeline networks by streamlining approval procedures, standardising applicable charges and ensuring time-bound clearances for project developers.

Under the provisions, public authorities must grant right-of-way permissions within prescribed timelines.

If approvals are not granted within the specified period, they will be considered deemed approved.

Authorities have also been barred from imposing charges beyond those prescribed in the order.

In residential complexes and housing areas, entities controlling access are required to grant permissions for pipeline installation within three working days.

The order also stipulates that last-mile connectivity for PNG must be provided within 48 hours once approvals are obtained.

Applications for pipeline connectivity in such areas cannot be rejected.

The order further empowers designated officers with authority similar to that of a civil court to resolve disputes related to land access and right-of-way permissions required for pipeline installation.

Authorised entities are required to begin pipeline laying work within four months of receiving approvals, failing which they may face penalties, including possible loss of exclusivity rights.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has been designated as the nodal authority responsible for monitoring implementation of the order, including tracking approvals, rejections and compliance with timelines.

If entities controlling access to residential complexes do not grant permission for laying pipelines, a notice will be issued, and LPG supply may be discontinued three months thereafter.

Listing the consequences for households that do not apply for PNG connections despite notification from authorised entities, the order states, “The LPG supply to such an address shall cease after three months from the date of the communication."

It further clarifies that LPG supply will continue if an NOC is issued on the grounds that providing piped gas connectivity is technically infeasible.

The authorised entity is required to maintain records explaining the technical infeasibility and may withdraw the NOC once it becomes possible to provide piped connectivity to the household.