New Delhi: The government has made it mandatory for households to shift to piped natural gas (PNG) in areas where such connectivity exists, warning that LPG supply will be cut off within three months for those who do not switch.
The directive, part of the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026 notified on March 24, states: “The LPG supply to such an address shall cease after three months from the date of the communication.”
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An exception has been built in for households where piped connections cannot be provided. “The supply of LPG to a household shall not cease, if the authorised entity issues a no-objection certificate (NOC) on the ground that it is technically infeasible to provide a piped natural gas connection or gas supply to such household.”
The order comes as India faces tightening LPG supplies against the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia crisis, which has disrupted flows from key export hubs and affected global shipping routes.
The government is seeking to shift consumption towards PNG — a continuously supplied fuel delivered through pipelines — to reduce dependence on cylinder-based distribution and diversify supply sources.
The move is also aimed at freeing up LPG volumes from cities with gas networks and redirecting them to regions where pipeline infrastructure is yet to reach.
Officials said the transition will be triggered through formal communication to consumers. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said city gas distribution entities will identify LPG users in areas with PNG access and issue notices.
Households will then have a three-month window to switch, failing which LPG supply will be discontinued. The order also extends this provision to cases where access to housing complexes is denied. It states that if pipeline access is blocked, a notice will be issued and LPG supply will be stopped three months thereafter.
The framework seeks to remove bottlenecks in pipeline expansion by mandating time-bound approvals and limiting regulatory discretion. Public authorities must grant right of way within specified timelines, failing which approvals will be deemed granted. They are also barred from imposing charges beyond those prescribed.
In residential areas, permissions for pipeline access must be granted within three working days, while last-mile PNG connections are to be provided within 48 hours. Applications for such connectivity cannot be rejected.
To enforce compliance, the order empowers designated officers with quasi-judicial authority to resolve disputes over land access and grant right of way, where required.
Entities authorised to supply gas must begin pipeline laying within four months of receiving approvals, or face penalties, including the possibility of losing exclusivity in their area.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has been tasked with monitoring implementation, including tracking approvals, delays and compliance levels.
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Commenting on the move, Oil Secretary Neeraj Mittal said in a post on X that “a crisis (has been) turned into an opportunity” through reforms that ease doing business and accelerate infrastructure rollout.
The order also requires authorised entities to document cases where PNG connectivity is not feasible and to revisit such exemptions once conditions allow pipeline access.
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