Patna: Bihar has expanded its piped natural gas (PNG) network to 20 districts, crossing the halfway mark in statewide gas connectivity, according to officials during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Monday.
The meeting of the Crisis Management Group (CMG), organised under the Department of Food and Consumer Protection, reviewed:
- PNG connection progress
- LPG cylinder supply
- petrol and diesel availability
- city gas distribution infrastructure
Bihar Sees Sharp Rise In PNG Connections
Officials said the expansion of City Gas Distribution (CGD) infrastructure had accelerated significantly in recent months.
With Saharsa becoming gas-connected on May 5 and Banka joining the network on May 18, a total of 20 districts are now linked to the state’s gas distribution system.
According to the review:
- monthly PNG connection rates have risen from 3,000–3,500 last year to 10,952 in April 2026
- 6,252 new domestic PNG connections have already been activated in May up to May 18
- Bihar currently has around 1.15 lakh operational domestic PNG connections
Officials also said 70 new industrial and commercial consumers had been added over the past two months, resulting in a 27% increase in daily gas sales in April compared with March.
LPG Supply Under Review Amid Delivery Backlogs
The meeting also reviewed domestic LPG cylinder distribution across the state.
Officials said Bihar currently records:
- an average daily refill supply of 359,391 cylinders
- an average delivery backlog of 4.33 days
Authorities said efforts were underway to reduce delivery delays on a “war footing”.
As part of enforcement drives:
- 30,500 gas agencies were inspected
- 29,663 commercial establishments were checked
- 2,333 illegal cylinders were seized
- 40 cases were registered under the Essential Commodities Act
- 154 FIRs were lodged
Petrol Pumps Operating Normally Across State
Officials informed the CMG that all 3,590 petrol pumps across Bihar were functioning normally.
The review noted a 10% increase in diesel sales compared with March 2026, largely attributed to agricultural demand during the ongoing farming season.
Oil companies, including:
- Indian Oil Corporation
- Bharat Petroleum
- Hindustan Petroleum
- GAIL
assured the government of uninterrupted fuel availability.
Chief Secretary Issues Directives On Pending Applications
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit directed officials to expedite the disposal of 31,774 pending PNG applications across the state.
He instructed gas distribution companies to:
- deploy additional manpower
- increase contractor engagement
- clear pending cases in “mission mode”
District Magistrates in non-gassified districts, including:
- Kaimur
- Siwan
- East Champaran
- West Champaran
were directed to resolve land-related issues connected to City Gate Stations and District Regulating Stations.
The Chief Secretary also ordered immediate coordination for pending forest clearances in Madhubani.
Diesel Supply And Small LPG Cylinders Prioritised
The state government additionally directed officials to ensure uninterrupted diesel supply for:
- telecom towers
- infrastructure construction projects
Instructions were also issued to maintain adequate market availability of 5 kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders for labourers and workers engaged in construction activities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Pratyaya Amrit said there was “no acute or grave crisis” regarding petroleum products or LPG supplies in Bihar and that all systems were functioning normally.
