Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 25: In a remarkable shift towards cleaner energy, India has witnessed an unprecedented 2,300 per cent rise in the number of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) stations over the last 10 years, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Friday. Alongside this surge, piped natural gas (PNG) connections have gone up by a significant 467 per cent, while LPG connections have more than doubled.
Taking to social media platform X, Minister Puri hailed the transformation as a testament to India’s commitment to a healthier, greener future. “These are not just figures — they are milestones in our journey towards a 'Healthy India with Clean Fuel'. They show that big changes are possible with new thinking, true intentions and hard work,” he said.
The minister credited the transformative gains to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whom India’s energy infrastructure has seen exponential growth.
“These achievements have strengthened the foundation of a developed India. Upon this foundation, we are building the grand edifice of a new and empowered nation,” Puri added.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), in a report released earlier this month, projected a near-60 per cent rise in India’s natural gas consumption by 2030. With the aim to cut oil dependency and transition to cleaner fuel alternatives, the country is rapidly building infrastructure across various sectors — from transport and domestic kitchens to industrial and commercial units.
The PNGRB has already developed gas networks in 307 geographical areas, encompassing almost the entire mainland of India, barring islands. These networks ensure widespread access to natural gas across households, industries, and the transportation sector.
The report identifies the City Gas Distribution (CGD) segment as the primary growth driver. CGD consumption is expected to grow by 2.5 to 3.5 times by 2030 and even 6 to 7 times by 2040 from the FY24 base of 37 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd).
Under a moderate-growth ‘Good-to-Go’ scenario, natural gas consumption is expected to rise from 188 mmscmd in FY24 to 297 mmscmd by 2030. The report further projects this to increase to 496 mmscmd by 2040.
The projections account for rising gas usage across key sectors including fertiliser, power, refineries, petrochemicals, and transport — particularly with increasing reliance on CNG and LNG as eco-friendly fuels.
As India marches forward on its clean energy mission, the sharp spike in gas adoption marks not only a technological and infrastructural leap but also a transformative chapter in the nation's commitment to environmental sustainability and energy independence.