Hyderabad sees surge in customer enquiries for PNG connections

PNG demand surges in Hyderabad as LPG supply disruptions push households and businesses to seek cheaper, more reliable alternatives.

Customer enquiries for piped natural gas (PNG) connections are on the rise in Hyderabad as households and commercial establishments aggressively explore alternatives to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

“Our target is to manage the current surge, which is majorly from domestic and commercial customer segments,” a senior official of Bhagyanagar Gas said, adding the company is also reaching out to more prospective customers, especially those in areas close to its existing pipeline network.

The rising demand coupled with the Centre’s push for PNG has meant City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities in the country such as BGL doubling down on efforts to ramp up the pipeline network. The entities operate in Geographical Areas awarded to them by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board.

Bhagyanagar Gas, which operates in Hyderabad, is one of the oldest CGD firms in the country. Four more entities operate in different parts of Telangana and the list includes Indian Oil Corporation and Megha Engineering.

At the heart of the recent surge in demand for PNG connections is the disruption in LPG supplies, especially to commercial users such as eateries and industries, in the wake of war in West Asia impacting India’s imports of the fuel.

Through capital intensive work and calling for resources, the CGD entities are keen on making most of the emerging situation. “We are scouting for additional contractors [to expand the PNG network],” the BGL official said. Telangana government’s recent G.O. relaxing certain conditions to facilitate the network expansion is bound to help the CGD firms.