New Delhi, Oct 1: The government has launched National PNG Drive 3.0, a nationwide initiative aimed at expanding the use of piped natural gas (PNG) in households and making greater use of India’s existing city gas distribution infrastructure.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the drive on Thursday at an event marking the 20th Foundation Day of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).
Running from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, the initiative brings together the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, PNGRB, city gas distribution companies, public-sector oil marketing companies and other stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of PNG.
50 lakh new household connections targeted
A key objective of PNG Drive 3.0 is to encourage households to move from LPG to piped natural gas where the required infrastructure is available.
The programme has set an ambitious target of 50 lakh new domestic PNG connections, alongside 40 lakh conversions of existing connections into active users and another 50 lakh domestic PNG registrations.
The campaign will also focus on activating dormant connections and increasing utilisation of city gas distribution networks that have already been established.
Building on the momentum of PNG Drive 2.0
The latest campaign builds on the progress recorded under PNG Drive 2.0, which resulted in 12.10 lakh new connections, 13.37 lakh billed connections and 15.31 lakh domestic PNG registrations.
During the previous drive, daily additions of domestic PNG connections increased by 43 per cent, while additions of billed consumers rose by 166 per cent.
PNG Drive 3.0 seeks to build on this momentum by bringing more households into the organised gas distribution network.
Expanding India’s gas infrastructure
India has already laid around 6,87,966 inch-km of natural gas pipelines, creating significant scope for expanding household access. The existing infrastructure is estimated to have potential for around 1.30 crore additional connections.
PNGRB has authorised approximately 34,233 km of natural gas pipeline networks across the country, including common-carrier pipelines, spur lines, tie-in connectivity and dedicated pipelines. Of this, around 25,429 km was operational as of June 2025, while another 10,459 km was under various stages of construction.
Supporting the One Nation, One Gas Grid vision
The expansion of the gas network is part of the government’s broader effort to develop a One Nation, One Gas Grid and increase the role of natural gas in India’s energy mix.
Measures include the development of key trunk pipelines, viability-gap funding for low-demand regions, a unified gas transportation tariff, expansion of city gas distribution networks and development of LNG terminals.
The broader objective is to make natural gas more accessible while improving connectivity between gas-producing regions, industrial centres, cities and consumers.
Benefits extend beyond households
Greater access to PNG can improve convenience for households by providing a continuous piped fuel supply and reducing dependence on cylinder-based deliveries where PNG infrastructure is available.
For industries, reliable gas supplies at competitive prices can help manage operating costs, improve manufacturing efficiency and support investment in gas-connected industrial clusters.
The expansion of city gas networks can also strengthen the availability of CNG for transportation and PNG for domestic and commercial users, supporting the wider transition towards cleaner energy options.
A push towards a stronger gas-based economy
India currently gets around 6 per cent of its primary energy mix from natural gas, and the government is working to increase its role as part of the country’s evolving energy strategy.
National PNG Drive 3.0 is therefore aimed not only at adding household connections but also at making better use of infrastructure already created across the country.
By expanding access, activating dormant connections and connecting new consumers, the six-month campaign seeks to take natural gas deeper into India’s homes, businesses and emerging urban and semi-urban centres, while supporting the country’s broader goals of cleaner, reliable and affordable energy.