Gaya: The district administration has intensified efforts to expand piped natural gas (PNG) connections to households and commercial establishments in Gaya and Bodh Gaya amid shortage and black marketing of LPG cylinders.District magistrate Shashank Shubhankar on Monday reviewed the progress of the PNG project at a meeting held at the collectorate with concerned officials. He said that PNG expansion in Gaya will reduce dependency on LPG, and the initiative aims to ensure a more stable energy supply.Highlighting the gravity of the current situation, the DM said complaints were being received at the district control room and on social media that delivery messages along with OTPs were being sent to customers without actual delivery of LPG cylinders. The DM directed officials to take strict action against erring gas vendors and seek explanations from concerned distributors.Officials informed the meeting that around 13,000 LPG cylinders are being supplied daily against a normal demand of 14,000. Panic booking by consumers has led to a backlog of nearly 60,000 pending refills.PNG project officials said the project targets providing connections to 10,092 households in urban Gaya within a year. At present, 1,920 households are receiving PNG supply, while another 401 are likely to be connected within the next 15 days. By June 15, 1,552 households in areas such as Ashok Vihar, Lakhibagh, Magadh Medical, Bhusunda and Janakpur are expected to be covered under the network.The Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD) campus and several major hotels in Bodh Gaya have already switched to PNG.Addressing the meeting, the DM said all hotels in Gaya and Bodh Gaya should be encouraged to apply for PNG connections. “Commercial establishments will be supplied gas only after applying for PNG connections. The administration aims to provide PNG connections to all hotels in Bodh Gaya within the next two months,” he said.The district supply officer said Indian Oil Gas Private Limited has begun laying pipelines in 12 prominent areas of the city. The underground pipeline network is being developed using modern technology with strict safety standards, including regular monitoring and maintenance to minimise risks.
