National PNG Drive 3.0 launched to add 50 lakh domestic piped natural gas connections by March 2027

Key facts

• The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) launched National PNG Drive 3.0 on October 1, 2026, targeting 50 lakh new domestic piped natural gas (D-PNG) connections, activation of around 40 lakh connected connections, and 50 lakh additional D-PNG registrations by March 31, 2027.
• The drive was launched by Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on the 20th foundation day of PNGRB, aiming to accelerate PNG adoption and facilitate transition from LPG to PNG.
• India's city gas distribution network spans 309 geographical areas serviced by 40 PNG suppliers; infrastructure exists for about 1.79 crore domestic consumers, of whom over 1.22 crore use PNG.
• During January to June 2026, around 12.10 lakh new PNG connections and 15.31 lakh D-PNG registrations were achieved, with daily D-PNG additions rising from 4,702 to about 7,000.
• Nearly the entire country has been authorized for city gas distribution with around 35,000 km of natural gas pipelines authorized, and a Unified PNG Portal has been conceptualised to streamline the PNG connection process on a single digital platform.