More than 100 residents participated in a large-scale piped natural gas (PNG) registration drive organised by Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) at Mumbai Public School on Sunday, as authorities continue efforts to encourage households across Mumbai to shift from LPG cylinders to PNG wherever pipeline infrastructure is available.
Officials at the camp stated that the majority of applications came from buildings that are yet to receive PNG connectivity. Around 90% of registrations were from “non-gasified” buildings, while the remaining applications were from residents living in societies where PNG pipelines have already been installed, but households have not yet switched.
Muruganantham Yadav, 59, a driver from Pratiksha Nagar, said his 112-flat residential building is still awaiting a PNG connection. “This is good, especially in light of the recent LPG crisis. Having a PNG connection would ensure we are not affected; switching the entire city to PNG wherever possible would lessen our reliance on LPG. It is the need of the hour,” he said.
The registration drive follows a directive issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on March 24, urging citizens to adopt PNG wherever connectivity exists and warning that LPG connections may be discontinued within three months if households fail to switch. The initiative also aligns with the Maharashtra government’s expansion plans for PNG infrastructure and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s push to speed up trenching permissions for pipeline installation work.
Residents were required to submit detailed application forms, after which officials verified whether their buildings fell within MGL’s GIS-based serviceable network. Authorities clarified that applications are only being accepted in areas where pipeline infrastructure already exists.
Resident Avinash Satpute, 43, said the transition was largely influenced by cost savings and convenience. “We have heard that PNG is cheaper than LPG and wanted to try it. The post-paid meter system also seems better because, unlike LPG cylinders, you do not have to pay in advance,” he said.
Source: Hindustan Times
