Chandigarh: City administrators have launched an aggressive drive to transition Chandigarh from bottled gas to piped infrastructure, aiming to quintuple the number of residential connections as part of a broader push for “cleaner, safer” urban energy.Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav on Saturday ordered a week-long “blitz” of community camps to address the city’s reliance on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The initiative seeks to surge piped natural gas (PNG) connections from the current 22,000 to a target of 1 lakh in the near term.Bridging Infra GapDespite infrastructure managed by Indian Oil Adani Gas Limited. covering nearly 30% of the city, adoption has remained stalled. Currently, Chandigarh supports 3.08 lakh LPG connections compared with just 22,000 for PNG. To bridge this gap, Yadav met with resident welfare associations (RWAs) and hospitality leaders to highlight the “uninterrupted supply and cost-effectiveness” of piped fuel.“The target is to increase PNG connections to 1 lakh in the near term,” Yadav said, directing the food and supplies Department to conduct two registration camps per day in group housing societies over the next week.Priority for Commercial HubsThe transition strategy places a heavy emphasis on high-volume consumers. Key measures discussed include commercial prioritisation (hotels, restaurants, and industrial eateries will be transitioned to the PNG network as a priority), fast-track approvals (the municipal corporation and engineering department have been ordered to expedite permits for pipeline laying to ensure rapid expansion into remaining sectors), and guaranteed timeline (In areas where the main infrastructure is already present, the city has mandated that new connections be provided to residents within one week of application).A Door-to-Door OffensiveTo build public confidence and combat misinformation, the city will deploy a “door-to-door awareness campaign.” RWAs and local representatives are being tapped as key stakeholders to motivate residents to make the switch. Officials believe that by focusing outreach on existing infrastructure zones first, they can achieve immediate “on-the-spot” registrations and alleviate the logistical strain on the city’s current LPG supply chain.Fuel for ThoughtOfficials highlighted that PNG offers a significant safety advantage over pressurised LPG cylinders, as the piped gas is lighter than air and dissipates quickly in the event of a leak, reducing the risk of household explosions.
