Chandigarh’s LPG Consumption Remains Above National Average Despite PNG Push
Chandigarh: Chandigarh continues to rely heavily on LPG for household cooking. This remains the case despite the administration’s efforts to expand piped natural gas (PNG) connections across the city. Recent data shared by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in Parliament shows a steady rise in domestic LPG consumers.
Chandigarh Adds Over 21,000 LPG Consumers
Chandigarh had 2,86,442 domestic LPG consumers on April 1, 2022. The number increased to 3,08,020 by April 1, 2026.
The city added 21,578 consumers during these four years. This represents growth of nearly 7.5 per cent.
The rise shows that LPG remains an important cooking fuel for households in Chandigarh. The trend continues even as the city expands its PNG network.
LPG Consumption Higher Than National Average
Chandigarh households also record higher LPG consumption than the national average.
During 2025-26, PMUY beneficiaries in Chandigarh used an average of 7.2 LPG cylinders. The national average stood at 4.8 cylinders.
Non-PMUY domestic consumers in Chandigarh used an average of 9.6 cylinders during the year. The national average for this group was 6.8 cylinders.
These figures point to the continued dependence of Chandigarh households on LPG.
PNG Connections Yet to Reach Target
The administration is now focusing on faster PNG expansion. Chandigarh had 34,175 domestic PNG connections as of May 31, 2026.
The city has a minimum work programme target of 1.75 lakh connections. So far, it has achieved around 20 per cent of the target.
IOAGPL introduced PNG in Chandigarh in 2016. The company has laid pipelines across several parts of the city. These include Sectors 32 to 38, Sectors 40 to 51, the Industrial Area and Manimajra.
The existing PNG network covers around 30 per cent of Chandigarh.
Administration Steps Up PNG Awareness
The UT Administration has started several initiatives to encourage residents to choose PNG. These include door-to-door awareness campaigns and registration camps.
Officials are also coordinating with resident welfare associations and group housing societies. The Food and Supplies Department has been asked to organise daily camps in housing societies.
These camps will help residents complete registrations and resolve their concerns.
PNG can offer a more convenient fuel supply. Households do not need to book cylinders or arrange regular refilling. The gas reaches homes through a pipeline network.
However, the latest figures show that LPG remains a major cooking fuel in Chandigarh. The city’s PNG expansion is gaining pace, but a wider shift from LPG to PNG will still require increased consumer participation.
