How Can I Get A New Gas Pipeline Connection? What Should I Do To Make The Process Easier?

Due to shortage of cooking gas, the government is encouraging people to shift to piped gas connection

As you may already be aware, the conflict in the Middle East has disrupted oil and gas supplies in a significant manner. Countries like India are hugely impacted, as there is heavy dependence on imports. The government is taking various steps to manage the situation. One of these solutions is to encourage consumers to shift from LPG to piped gas. Let us take a look at how to get a new gas pipeline connection and what can be done to make the process easier?

How to get a new gas pipeline connection?

An interesting thing is that while there is shortage of cooking gas, getting a new gas pipeline connection is actually easier right now. That is because the government has introduced special incentives for people who want to switch from LPG to piped gas. However, the incentives can vary based on your location and the piped gas service provider.

In India, there are many piped gas providers. Some of these are listed below.

Provider	Primary Operating Areas
Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL)	Delhi NCR, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Rewari, and parts of Rajasthan (Ajmer, Pali).
Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL)	Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar, and Raigad district.
Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL)	Gujarat (widest network), plus parts of Maharashtra (Palghar) and Haryana.
Adani Total Gas Limited	Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Faridabad, Khurja, and multi-state clusters (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka).
Maharashtra Natural Gas Ltd (MNGL)	Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Chakan, Talegaon, and Hinjewadi.
GAIL Gas Limited	Bengaluru, Dewas, Sonipat, Meerut, Varanasi, and Ranchi.
Indian Oil-Adani Gas (IOAGPL)	Chandigarh, Ernakulam, Prayagraj, Bulandshahr, and parts of Kerala and Bihar.
Torrent Gas	Chennai, Jaipur, Pune (rural), and districts in UP and Punjab.

You need to check if piped gas connections are available in your area. You can also visit the website of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), which is the central body for managing piped gas supply in the country. Once on this website, you can select your state and district to see which entity is supplying piped gas in your area.

Step-by-step process for getting a new gas pipeline connection

The application process may vary based on the service provider. However, there are unlikely to be major differences. In most cases, the entire application process of getting a new piped gas connection can be completed online. Most piped gas providers have their websites, where you can apply for a new gas connection. You just have to fill the application form and submit it online.

Since the government is currently encouraging customers to switch to piped natural gas, you may get the connection much faster. The standard time is around 2-12 weeks, although it can vary based on your location. You can also visit the nearest office of the piped gas provider to submit your application. In most cases, you may have to submit one or more of the following documents.

• ID proof: Aadhaar / PAN / Voter ID / Passport
• Address/Ownership proof: Latest electricity bill, property sale deed/rental agreement, house tax receipt
• Passport-size photo
• Apartment/society: NOC/approval letter from residents’ welfare association or builder
• Tenant: Landlord’s NOC + their ID
• Sometimes: First 5 pages of sale deed or allotment letter (for govt housing)

Depending on whether you are applying online or offline, you will need to pay the piped gas connection charges, installation charges and a refundable security deposit. The field inspection and installation work will be carried out subsequently.

What to do to make the process easier?

Getting a new piped gas connection is quite an easy task. The only thing that matters is that piped gas should be available in your area. If the piped gas pipeline has not reached your area, you may have to wait a bit longer. These are underground pipes and it takes time to set up the complete ecosystem.

To make the process easier, you need to ensure that your documents are in proper order. If you live in a building, make sure you have the necessary permission or NOC from the society or management. If there is any delay, you can get in touch with customer support. Hopefully, you should be able to get your new piped gas connection easily and in a timely manner.

Piped gas has various advantages over LPG. For example, there is no risk of a big explosion. Piped gas is usually methane, whereas LPG is mostly propane or butane. Methane is lighter and easily disperses in the air. In comparison, LPG can stay longer around the floor, increasing the risk of a fire. With piped gas, you do not have to worry about things like booking a cylinder, waiting for the delivery, making the regulator connection, etc. As of now, you may also get incentives for switching from LPG to piped gas.