India’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) covers 784 districts across 34 states and union Territories with a Minimum Work Programme (MWP) target of 12.63 crore PNG domestic connections and 18,336 CNG stations by 2034, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) said.

The PNGRB said in an official statement yesterday that “ Spearheaded by entities authorized by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), the CGD network now spans 307 Geographical Areas (GAs), covering nearly 100% of the country’s geographical area except islands, touching 784 districts across 34 states and union Territories.”

According to the official statement, “ The Government has undertaken a series of policy and regulatory measures to catalyze growth in this sector. These measures range from allocating administered price domestic gas and easing supply mechanisms to mandating PNG provisions in government and defense residential complexes, granting Public Utility status to CGD projects, and directing the CPWD and NBCC to include PNG provisions in all residential complexes.”

Highlighting the steps taken by PNGRB, the official statement stated, “ To achieve the target, a strong and coordinated synergy between the States and the entities is imperative. PNGRB has been engaging extensively with various state authorities to address key policy and infrastructural challenges in the CGD sector.”

“ Recently, CGD policies/directives for the promotion and use of natural gas were notified by the States of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan. As of July 2025, 11 states/UTs, namely Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal (only laying policies), and Assam, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka , Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan (with comprehensive CGD policies) have taken steps in this direction,” the official statement added.

Highlighting some policies, PNGRB stated, “ The rationalization of VAT and the implementation of effective CGD policies across states have promoted the adoption of CNG vehicles, with the number on the road rising steadily from 58.61 lakh in March 2023 to 81.95 lakh by March 2025.”

“ As per the Vahan Dashboard, a growth of nearly 25% in CNG vehicle registrations was recorded in FY 2024-25 compared to FY 2023-24. This translated into an increase of around 21% in gas sales in FY 2024-25, along with the addition of approximately 1,206 CNG stations across the country,” the document added.

The concerted efforts of PNGRB with state governments and central authorities are facilitating the development of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network across the country. Efforts taken by PNGRB will be a force multiplier towards realizing India’s vision of a gas-based economy for achieving the goals of energy security, environmental sustainability, and equitable access across the region.

PNGRB is a statutory body that regulates the downstream activities of the petroleum and natural gas sector in India. It was constituted under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006.