Patna: Residents in Patna’s Gardanibagh area are now receiving piped natural gas (PNG) for the first time, as the state expands its gas infrastructure to meet domestic and industrial needs. The supply has been initiated through District Regulating Systems (DRS) installed at Gardanibagh and Bypass Sipara, with over two dozen homes already connected.
Approximately 1,000 local households have applied for PNG connections, of which 200 have so far been activated. Officer’s Enclave was the first area in Patna to receive the facility. GAIL India General Manager A.K. Singh said that ten consumers have begun using the gas supply, and connections will soon be extended to the wider area.
Expansion Across the City
Patna’s PNG distribution is supported by five DRS units located at AIIMS, BIT, IGIMS, Gardanibagh, Bypass Sipara, and Fatuha. Each DRS can supply gas to between 30,000 and 35,000 homes. Currently, around 28,000 households are receiving PNG, serving more than 50,000 people across the city.
Industrial Supply in Fatuha to Begin Soon
Plans are also underway to provide PNG to industrial units in Fatuha. Pipelines and technical inspections have been completed, and authorities are awaiting the necessary licence to begin regular supply next month. Factories in the region currently rely on LPG cylinders and diesel, which increase production costs. The introduction of PNG is expected to offer industries a safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective energy source.
Pipeline to Bihta in Progress
GAIL officials also confirmed that a six-inch pipeline is being laid from Naubatpur to Bihta. A new DRS will be installed at IIT Patna, with discussions ongoing with the institute to facilitate industrial connections. Once operational, the pipeline will support gas supply to a range of industrial consumers in the area.
