Maharashtra’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that the central government should provide technical support and special financial assistance to speed up the expansion of infrastructure for piped natural gas (PNG) supply across the state.
He made these remarks at a high-level meeting held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, which was jointly chaired by Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Hardeep Singh Puri. The meeting was attended by Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pralhad Joshi, ministers from Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, senior central officials, Maharashtra’s Additional Chief Secretary Anil Diggikar, municipal commissioners, and representatives of natural gas companies.
Bhujbal highlighted the major initiatives taken by the Maharashtra government to promote PNG, noting that pipeline installation often faces delays due to lack of consent from neighbours and delays in municipal permissions for road excavation.
To address this, the government has introduced a “deemed permission” policy, under which approvals will be considered granted if not issued within a specified timeframe. He also stated that new housing projects must have PNG connections to obtain an Occupancy Certificate (OC), and societies where pipelines are already available will not receive an OC without taking PNG connections as per municipal norms.
The state is also working to reduce LPG cylinder usage and expand PNG adoption, especially in hotels, restaurants, and small industries, as it is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Bhujbal suggested simplifying licensing and connection procedures, and announced that gas distribution companies are now allowed to operate 24 hours a day with relaxed seasonal restrictions.
Additionally, guidelines have been issued to waive road restoration fees. To ensure smooth coordination, the Controller of Ration Distribution and Director of Civil Supplies has been appointed as the state nodal officer for this initiative, and these measures will remain in effect until June 30, 2026.
Also Read: State Moves Towards PNG Adoption; LPG Phase-Out Plan Considered in Urban Areas