New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) In a significant shift towards alternative fuel adoption, more than 39,000 consumers have surrendered their LPG connections and switched to piped natural gas (PNG), the government said on Sunday.

The transition, facilitated through the MYPNGD.in platform, is part of a broader strategy to ensure long-term energy stability and reduce dependence on LPG.

The government said it has been working closely with States and Union Territories under the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the LPG Control Order, 2000 to monitor supplies and curb malpractices such as hoarding and black marketing.

States have been asked to take the lead in ensuring smooth availability of petrol, diesel and LPG, with the Centre reiterating this responsibility through multiple communications and review meetings.

To strengthen coordination, regular meetings have been held with state authorities, including high-level reviews chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in early April.

During these discussions, states were directed to issue daily press briefings, counter misinformation on social media, and intensify enforcement drives through district administrations in coordination with oil marketing companies.

As part of enforcement measures, more than 2,400 raids were conducted across the country on April 18 alone to check hoarding and black marketing of LPG.

Public sector oil marketing companies have also stepped up vigilance, imposing penalties on 264 LPG distributorships and suspending 67 others for violations.

At the same time, the government is accelerating the expansion of city gas distribution networks to boost PNG adoption.

Since March 2026, over 4.85 lakh PNG connections have been activated, while more than 5.43 lakh new consumers have registered for connections.

To further encourage the shift, city gas companies such as Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), GAIL Gas and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) are offering incentives for both domestic and commercial users.

The Centre has also linked additional commercial LPG allocation to states with their progress in PNG expansion, with 22 States and Union Territories already benefiting from this reform-driven approach.

Fast-track approvals for city gas infrastructure are being implemented under a special three-month accelerated framework introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

On the supply front, the government has ensured uninterrupted availability of natural gas for key sectors, with 100 per cent supply being maintained for domestic PNG and CNG transport.

Gas allocation to fertiliser plants has been increased to around 95 per cent of their average consumption, while supply to other industrial and commercial sectors has been enhanced up to 80 per cent.

–IANS

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