LPG woes: AMC fast-tracks PNG pipeline works with grant of 820 road opening permits in a day | Ahmedabad News

Ahmedabad: In a significant push to expand Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure amid rising complaints of LPG shortage, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Monday granted a record 820 road opening permissions in a single day to facilitate gas pipeline works across the city.The move was aimed at accelerating the rollout of PNG connections to households as well as commercial establishments such as hotels, restaurants and paying guest (PG) facilities. Civic officials said the decision was taken on an urgent basis to ensure uninterrupted access to cleaner fuel and reduce dependence on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which has seen supply constraints in recent weeks due to the West Asia conflict.According to AMC data, the permissions were distributed across zones, including 46 in the central zone, 93 in the east, 174 in the northwest, 130 in the north, 123 in the southwest, 99 in the south and 155 in the west zone. The applications were submitted by three authorised city gas distributors — Adani Total Gas, Gujarat Gas and Sabarmati Gas Company— for expanding City Gas Distribution (CGD) infrastructure.Civic authorities said PNG has been classified as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, making its reliable and continuous supply a priority. “Considering the current global situation and LPG supply challenges, priority is being given to PNG connections,” an AMC official said.In a special measure, the civic body has waived road opening charges and allowed minimal digging in sensitive stretches. While the executing agencies will bear the cost, road restoration work will be carried out by AMC to ensure quality and uniformity.The civic body has also begun engaging with hotel and restaurant associations to encourage a shift from LPG to PNG. AMC officials said the response has been positive, with associations advising members to transition to PNG at the earliest.