Gurgaon: Piped natural gas (PNG) connections have continued to elude thousands of families living in highrises along Dwarka Expressway.Nearly 6,500 flats across two sectors — 102 and 102A — have been waiting for the PNG supply for close to two years. With no PNG supply, many families have been using LPG cylinders, which — residents said — was inconvenient and “posed safety risks”, particularly in taller residential towers where cylinders must be manually transported.“Access to PNG will provide a safer, cleaner and more efficient energy solution while improving the quality of life in the community,” Suncity Avenue 102 RWA general secretary PN Mishra told TOI. The PNG project has been stalled due to pending right of way (RoW) permission — the nod to use the land for laying utilities — from GMDA. “The team is examining the RoW permission application and the matter will be pursued with the concerned department,” a GMDA official said.The delay has affected half a dozen housing societies in the area, including Imperial Gardens and Adani Oyster Grande, among others. While internal pipeline networks were largely installed inside several societies, individual gas connections could not be released because Haryana City Gas Ltd (HCGL) did not receive permission to lay the main gas pipeline on GMDA land.In a recent letter to GMDA chief executive officer, Imperial Gardens Condominium Association said that the pipeline work within the society was nearly complete, including meter installation, but the project remained stalled due to RoW permission between GMDA and HCGL.Kamal Malhotra, a resident of Adani Oyster Grande in Sector 102A, said, “It is unfortunate that residents are running from pillar to post for a basic utility. The pipeline stacks are installed inside buildings, but without the main line, supply cannot start. The lack of coordination between authorities is making residents suffer.” RWAs have requested GMDA, as the land-owning authority, to intervene and coordinate with HCGL to grant necessary permissions and clear the pending RoW at the earliest so that gas supply could be made operational.Suncity Avenue 102 RWA official Mishra added, “We request the concerned agencies and officials to facilitate the provision of PNG in an expeditious manner so that residents can receive this essential service without further delay.” Due process followed: HCGL CEO HCGL CEO Rahul Chopra told TOI, “We are following the due process and are complying with all requirements, including paying the applicable charges of nearly Rs 7 lakh per kilometre, which are among the highest in the country. Despite this, permissions have been pending for over eight months. Applications are submitted, sometimes rejected after months and then we are asked to reapply, which further delays the work.““In many other states where we operate — across 20 districts pan-India — there are clear policies with defined timelines. Some states even allow deemed approval if no response is given within a stipulated period. Unfortunately, this is the only city where approvals are taking such a long time despite full compliance and readiness to pay charges. Residents are ready to adopt PNG, especially in a city so close to Delhi where awareness is high. However, due to prolonged delays in right-of-way permissions, we are unable to provide timely connections. I will be raising this matter at the highest level to seek a time-bound, transparent approval mechanism so that infrastructure development does not suffer and consumers are not deprived of essential services,” Chopra added.
