New Delhi: India’s LPG transportation network is set for a major expansion, with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) authorising around 1,800 km of new pipeline infrastructure across six states at an estimated investment of ₹7,000 crore.
The three pipeline projects will pass through Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Goa. PNGRB said the expansion will strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure and improve the resilience of LPG supply chains.
The authorised projects include a 556-km pipeline from Cherlapally in Telangana to Nagpur in Maharashtra, a 611-km pipeline from Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh to Sitarganj in Uttarakhand, and a 633-km pipeline connecting Shikrapur in Maharashtra with Goa and Hubli in Karnataka.
All three projects have been authorised for development by GAIL (India) Limited. Once completed, they are expected to increase the PNGRB-authorised common carrier LPG pipeline network from around 7,700 km to about 9,500 km.
The expansion follows PNGRB’s earlier authorisation of the Kandla-Gorakhpur LPG Pipeline. PNGRB records list the authorised length of the project at 2,757 km and describe it as the country’s longest LPG pipeline.
PNGRB said greater pipeline connectivity is particularly important given India’s dependence on imported LPG. Pipeline infrastructure can strengthen supply resilience by allowing continuous movement of LPG and providing line-pack storage during supply disruptions, emergencies and periods of higher demand.
The regulator also expects greater use of pipelines to reduce dependence on LPG tank trucks for long-distance transportation. The shift can improve road safety, lower logistics costs and reduce congestion associated with road-based movement of LPG.
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