With the City Gas Distribution network growing steadily, more households are switching from LPG cylinders to piped natural gas for everyday cooking

Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is becoming an increasingly popular cooking fuel in India as more households move away from traditional LPG cylinders. The expansion of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network has made PNG available in a growing number of cities, offering consumers a continuous gas supply without the need to book or replace cylinders.

According to official government data, more than one crore (10 million) domestic PNG connections have already been provided across the country. As the CGD network continues to expand into new urban and semi-urban areas, the number of households using piped natural gas is expected to increase further.

The shift towards PNG has been supported by infrastructure development, improved accessibility and the convenience of uninterrupted fuel supply.

More Than 10 Million Domestic PNG Connections

India has witnessed steady growth in the adoption of piped natural gas over the past few years.

Official figures indicate that over one crore households are now connected to the PNG network. The government's focus on expanding the City Gas Distribution programme has played a major role in increasing domestic access to piped natural gas.

As new geographical areas are added under the CGD network, additional residential connections are expected in the coming years.

PNG Is Available in Several Major Cities

Piped Natural Gas services are already available in many metropolitan and large urban centres.

Some of the cities where households have access to PNG include:

• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Ahmedabad
• Pune
• Lucknow
• Indore
• Jaipur
• Several other Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities

The availability of PNG depends on whether a particular locality falls within the operational area of an authorised City Gas Distribution company.

Role of City Gas Distribution (CGD) Companies

PNG services are provided by authorised City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies operating in specific geographical areas under government authorisation.

These companies are responsible for:

• Providing new domestic PNG connections.
• Installing underground gas pipelines.
• Setting up gas meters.
• Carrying out maintenance and safety inspections.
• Customer service and billing.

Residents can apply for a connection only if their locality is covered under the licensed CGD network.

No Need to Book LPG Cylinders

One of the biggest advantages of PNG is convenience.

Unlike LPG cylinders, piped natural gas is supplied directly to households through underground pipelines, eliminating several common inconveniences associated with cylinder-based cooking fuel.

With PNG, consumers generally do not need to:

• Book LPG cylinders repeatedly.
• Wait for cylinder deliveries.
• Store heavy cylinders at home.
• Worry about running out of cooking gas unexpectedly.

The continuous supply makes PNG particularly convenient for households with regular cooking needs.

Billing Based on Actual Gas Consumption

Another important feature of PNG is its usage-based billing system.

Instead of purchasing a full LPG cylinder in advance, PNG consumers receive bills based on the actual quantity of gas consumed, as recorded by the installed gas meter.

A typical PNG bill may include:

• Meter-recorded gas consumption.
• Fixed charges, where applicable.
• Taxes and statutory charges.
• Other charges specified by the concerned CGD company.

Billing frequency may vary depending on the service provider and local regulations.

Why More Households Are Choosing PNG

Several factors have contributed to the growing popularity of piped natural gas in India.

Some of the key reasons include:

• Continuous gas supply through pipelines.
• No requirement for cylinder replacement.
• Meter-based billing for actual usage.
• Improved convenience for daily cooking.
• Expanding network coverage in urban areas.

For many consumers, these features make PNG a practical alternative to traditional LPG cylinders where the service is available.

Things to Know Before Applying

Before applying for a PNG connection, consumers should verify whether their area is covered by an authorised City Gas Distribution company.

Applicants may also need to:

• Submit identity and address proof.
• Complete customer registration formalities.
• Allow installation of pipelines and a gas meter.
• Follow safety guidelines issued by the service provider.

Connection charges, security deposits and installation procedures may differ between CGD companies.

Conclusion

With more than one crore domestic connections already in operation, Piped Natural Gas has become an important part of India's urban energy infrastructure. As the City Gas Distribution network expands, more households are expected to gain access to uninterrupted piped gas for cooking.

For consumers living in areas covered by authorised CGD companies, PNG offers the convenience of continuous supply, meter-based billing and reduced dependence on LPG cylinder bookings. Before switching, households should check local availability, connection charges and the terms offered by their respective gas distribution provider.