Noida: Following the disruption in LPG supply earlier in March due to the West Asia crisis, Noida witnessed a significant increase in demand for piped natural gas (PNG) connections, with more than 10,000 new domestic consumers added in the last two months alone. Officials confirmed that the district now has a total of 4,11,748 domestic PNG connections.
Rise in Domestic PNG Connections
Restaurateurs, however, informed TOI that while commercial establishments were also pushing for a switch to PNG, obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the local authority posed a challenge. Less than 100 new commercial PNG connections were approved in the last two months.
“The number of new connections has risen manifold; the monthly domestic connections used to be much lower. Earlier, LPG cylinders and refills were readily available, so no one took the trouble of applying for a PNG connection. However, after the crisis, people have realized that piped gas connections are more reliable and are getting connections,” said Smriti Gautam, district supply officer.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently directed officials and gas distribution agencies to accelerate PNG coverage across urban areas.
Registration and Completion Data
Data reveals that the district recorded 12,629 registrations for PNG connections in March and 8,282 in April. Of these, 4,840 connections were completed in March and 5,963 in April. The remaining applications are still being processed, officials stated.
Challenges for Commercial Establishments
Commercial establishments have also been seeking PNG connections in large numbers, but restaurant and small business owners say procedural hurdles are slowing the transition. In March, only 49 commercial PNG connections were completed, while the number was even smaller at 46 in April. The district has a total of 1,641 commercial PNG connections.
“Many restaurants want PNG because commercial LPG has become expensive and supply disruptions affected kitchen operations. But the approval process is taking too long due to NOC-related issues,” said Varun Khera, president of the National Restaurants Association of India, Noida chapter.
Easing commercial approval procedures could significantly increase adoption among restaurants, hotels, and small food businesses in the district, he added.
Price Comparison and Government Incentives
As of May 1, the price of a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder has risen to Rs 993 in the city, with some parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) seeing hikes of over Rs 3,000.
To encourage more commercial consumers to shift to PNG, the petroleum ministry issued an order allowing a unit that has applied for PNG connections to retain 50% of its LPG cylinder quota until the PNG connection is installed. Discussions are being held with all stakeholders to resolve the issue and increase the pace of commercial PNG connections, officials said.
“There are some logistical issues that are acting as hurdles from local authorities in establishing PNG connections for commercial establishments. We have conducted several meetings with the gas distribution company, restaurateurs, and the local authority, and a solution is being worked out,” Gautam added.
