Patna: Bihar government has stepped up efforts to expand piped natural gas (PNG) infrastructure, with the state government announcing a series of measures to fast-track approvals and encourage wider adoption across urban areas.
Deputy chief minister and urban development minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said PNG infrastructure is already available in 18 district headquarters, including Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Purnia, where around one lakh households are receiving cooking gas through pipelines.
Gas distribution companies, he added, are capable of providing more than 75,000 domestic connections within 24 hours and over 70,000 connections within a week, indicating readiness for rapid expansion. Several commercial establishments and industrial units are also using PNG.
Faster approvals, deemed clearance rule
Under the new directives, urban local bodies must grant permissions for gas pipeline installation and related infrastructure within 24 hours. If approvals are not issued within this period, they will be deemed automatically granted.
Similarly, requests by gas companies for infrastructure restoration work must also be cleared within 24 hours, failing which automatic approval will apply.
The government has also allowed state-owned gas companies to use land at nominal rates and permitted round-the-clock operations for pipeline and infrastructure work, unless specifically restricted by local authorities.
Push for expansion to new districts
The government is now focusing on extending PNG networks to additional districts, including Darbhanga, Bhagalpur, Gopalganj, Siwan and Katihar. Officials said coordination with oil and gas companies will be intensified to ensure timely rollout.
Municipal bodies have been directed to provide land clearances and other approvals under a time-bound plan to accelerate implementation.
Officials highlighted PNG as a safer, more economical and efficient alternative to LPG, with the added advantage of largely domestic sourcing.
