The demand for piped natural gas (PNG) in Pune district has skyrocketed, with an unprecedented 25,000 new connections installed in April and May, compared to 11,000 in March. This surge is attributed to the rising price of LPG cylinders, supply shortages stemming from the ongoing conflict in West Asia, and the government's push to adopt PNG.
MNGL Responds to Rising Demand
Senior officials from Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) confirmed to TOI that they are actively catering to the increasing demand and ensuring connections are provided to housing societies. The sharp rise follows directives from the central and state governments urging residents in areas with pipeline connectivity to switch from LPG cylinders to PNG within the next three months.
Supply Security and Awareness Campaigns
MNGL officials highlighted that the Centre's policy reserving gas for household consumers has secured domestic PNG supply in Pune district. “The supply to all 8.7 lakh domestic PNG consumers in Pune district will remain uninterrupted,” an official stated. To boost adoption, MNGL conducted awareness camps in nearly 1,000 housing societies across the district, alongside newspaper advertisements, social media campaigns, and radio jingles.
Incentives and Application Process
New customers registering for PNG connections are offered a direct discount of Rs 500 on their first bill, with additional application charges waived. Consumers can also avail discounts of up to Rs 15,500 under various schemes, subject to terms and conditions. Applications can be submitted via MNGL’s official website or the MY MNGL mobile application.
Challenges Faced by Housing Societies
Despite the surge, several housing societies in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad reported delays in receiving connections. “We have been told that there is a queue and we would get the connection soon. However, there has been no movement from MNGL’s side,” said a member of a housing society in Kondhwa. VR Rao, a member of a society managing committee, urged the state government to create greater awareness about PNG use and introduce a single-window system for obtaining connections and surrendering LPG cylinders. “There is no clarity on the process,” he added.
Infrastructure Expansion
MNGL currently operates a 2,385 km pipeline network across Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Officials confirmed that infrastructure expansion is being accelerated to ensure quicker gas connections amid rising demand.
