MP's Piped Natural Gas Adoption Remains Stagnant Despite CGD Expansion

The state of Madhya Pradesh in India has seen slow adoption of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) despite efforts to expand its City Gas Distribution (CGD) programme. Official data shows that as of May 31, 2026, the state had only 3.36 lakh domestic PNG connections, ranking eighth among states and Union Territories.

The Indore geographical area has the highest number of PNG connections at 1.35 lakh, followed by Gwalior with 66,629 connections. However, Bhopal, which is one of the state's largest urban centres, had only 39,432 connections, indicating slower adoption in the capital.

Experts say that expanding PNG connectivity is critical to improving the state's energy resilience, as it reduces dependence on LPG cylinders during disruptions. The recent LPG supply disruption in Madhya Pradesh highlighted the need for faster adoption of piped gas, with officials encouraging households and commercial establishments to switch to PNG where available.

Madhya Pradesh's tally of 3.37 lakh PNG connections remains modest compared to other states, with Maharashtra leading the country with 47.42 lakh connections, followed by Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, and Rajasthan.