The government is encouraging homes and businesses to transition to piped natural gas (PNG) as India struggles with an LPG shortage brought on by the conflict in West Asia interfering with supplies from vital sources.
In an effort to speed up the extension of the gas network and lessen dependency on a single fuel, the government has issued a new directive mandating that the supply of cooking gas LPG to households will be stopped if consumers do not convert to piped natural gas when such connectivity is available.
The government is encouraging households and commercial users to switch to Piped Natural Gas (PNG), a more convenient alternative that is both domestically produced and sourced through diversified supply, as India struggles with a shortage of LPG due to the war in West Asia disrupting supplies from key sources.
There is no need to schedule refills because PNG is continuously delivered to kitchen burners via pipelines.
In order to improve energy security, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has announced the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026, which aims to expedite pipeline infrastructure, streamline approvals and encourage a switch from LPG to PNG.
According to the March 24 ruling, LPG supply “shall cease after three months” if a family chooses not to use PNG even while it is available. Subject to a no-objection certificate, the clause permits continuing in situations when providing a piped connection is “technically infeasible.”
The action is intended to promote “fuel diversification” in the face of global supply disruptions, such as damage to liquefaction facilities in the Gulf and the ongoing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, while freeing up LPG supplies from areas with pipeline connectivity and diverting them to regions lacking such infrastructure.
In response to the directive, Oil Secretary Neeraj Mittal stated in a post on X that “a crisis (has been) turned into an opportunity” thanks to business-friendly changes.
By streamlining permits, standardising fees, and guaranteeing time-bound clearances, the order—issued under the Essential Commodities Act—aims to expedite pipeline infrastructure.
Public authorities must provide permissions or rights of way within specified timeframes in order to enable quick rollout; otherwise, approvals will be considered granted. Additionally, the injunction prohibits authorities from filing more charges than those listed.
Last-mile PNG connectivity must be supplied within 48 hours, and entities in charge of access must provide rights in dwelling areas within three working days. In some places, pipeline connectivity applications cannot be turned down.
In order to settle conflicts over land access and award right of way when needed, the order also permits selected officers with authority similar to that of a civil court to intervene.
Authorised organisations risk fines and even losing their exclusivity if they don’t start building pipelines within four months of approval.
As the authorised nodal body to oversee implementation, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) will keep track of approvals, rejections, and compliance.
Oil marketing companies will stop supplying LPG after three months if the authorities controlling access to the housing complex refuse to grant the right of way or right of use authorisation to lay pipeline to houses for PNG delivery.
“The LPG supply to such an address shall cease after three months from the date of the communication,” it stated, listing the “consequences of households not applying for and obtaining PNG connection when notified by authorised entity” that has installed a pipeline to deliver such fuel.If the authorised authority obtains a no-objection certificate (NOC) on the grounds that it is technically impossible to establish a piped natural gas connection or gas supply to such a household, the supply of LPG to that household will not stop, it stated.
When the authorised company is able to supply and operationalise piped gas connectivity to such households, it will remove the NOC and keep documentation of the reasons for such technical infeasibility.
