Switch to piped gas if there's access or no LPG supply in 3 months: Centre amid fuel disruption scare

New Delhi: The Centre has mandated that households with access to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) must switch from LPG cylinders within three months of notification, or face disconnection of their LPG supply.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Tuesday notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026.

The order aims to accelerate pipeline infrastructure development, ease approvals, and promote a shift from LPG to PNG to strengthen energy security.

The order states that LPG supply “shall cease after three months” if a household does not opt for PNG despite its availability. However, LPG supply may continue where it is “technically infeasible” to provide a piped connection, subject to a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the authorised entity.

The government plans to free up LPG supplies from areas with pipeline connectivity and divert them to regions lacking such infrastructure, while promoting fuel diversification amid global supply disruptions.

As India grapples with an LPG shortage due to the conflict in West Asia, the government has been pushing households and commercial users to switch to piped natural gas (PNG).

To facilitate rapid rollout, the order mandates that public authorities must grant right of way or necessary permissions within the prescribed timelines. Failure to do so will result in approvals being deemed granted.

The order also prohibits authorities from imposing any charges beyond those specified.In housing complexes, entities controlling access must grant permissions within three working days, and last-mile PNG connectivity must be provided within 48 hours. Applications for pipeline connectivity in such areas cannot be rejected.

Authorised entities must begin laying pipelines within four months of approval, failing which they may face penalties, including possible loss of exclusivity.

If the right of way or right of use permission to lay pipelines to residences for PNG supply is not granted by the entities that control access to a housing complex, a notice will be issued. Three months after the notice, oil marketing companies will stop LPG supply.

The order clearly lists the consequences for households that do not apply for and obtain a PNG connection when notified by the authorised entity. “The LPG supply to such an address shall cease after three months from the date of the communication.”

However, the supply of LPG to a household shall not cease if the authorised entity issues a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) on the ground that it is technically infeasible to provide a piped natural gas connection or supply to that household.

The authorised entity shall maintain records of the reasons for such technical infeasibility and withdraw the NOC as soon as it is able to provide and operationalise the piped gas connectivity to such households.