LPG Woes Drive Surge in Piped Gas Demand

Concerns regarding LPG availability have triggered a notable shift towards piped natural gas (PNG) across the National Capital Region. Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) is experiencing a significant rise in user activity on its mobile app and a surge in new PNG connections, as reported in early March 2026.

This transition is driven by growing unease over LPG cylinder supply disruptions, exacerbated by escalating geopolitical tensions. Consumers are increasingly viewing PNG, delivered directly via underground pipelines, as a more reliable alternative to traditional LPG distribution.

IGL's mobile app, IGL Connect, saw over 22,000 new registrations in the first half of March 2026, marking a 14% increase in pace compared to February. Concurrently, IGL has ramped up its installation capacity to between 1,300-1,500 connections daily since March 1, a substantial increase from the earlier average of 600-700 connections per day.

Both residential and commercial users are migrating to PNG. Weekly business queries have jumped from approximately 20 to around 140. IGL has responded by doubling its project and installation capacity and is offering a Rs 500 discount on bills for those switching to PNG before March 31, 2026.

Government policies further support this shift. Households with PNG connections are now restricted from obtaining or retaining multiple LPG connections. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed households with existing PNG infrastructure access to utilize the service. India currently has about 1.6 crore PNG connections, with over 1 crore active.