The government is preparing to launch PNG Drive 3.0, a nationwide campaign aimed at encouraging more households to switch to piped natural gas (PNG).
The campaign is expected to be launched in September 2026.
Its main focus will be on increasing new household connections, spreading awareness and making the process of switching to PNG easier.
The move comes as the government looks to increase the use of natural gas in India’s overall energy mix.
Faster PNG Connections Will Be a Major Focus
One of the key goals of PNG Drive 3.0 will be to help households get new PNG connections faster.
City gas distribution companies are expected to play an important role in the campaign.
The government is looking at ways to simplify the connection process and encourage more people to choose piped gas.
The campaign could particularly focus on areas where PNG pipelines are already available but only a small number of households have taken connections.
Why Does the Government Want More Households to Use PNG?
PNG is considered a cleaner cooking fuel compared with traditional fuels such as firewood and other solid fuels.
Increasing PNG usage could also reduce dependence on LPG in areas where city gas networks are already available.
The government has been working to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy consumption as part of its broader push towards cleaner energy sources.
PNG Drive 3.0 Is the Third Phase
PNG Drive 3.0 follows earlier campaigns aimed at increasing awareness and adoption of piped natural gas.
However, the latest campaign is expected to focus more on actual household connections, rather than simply creating awareness.
The government is also looking at better coordination between gas distribution companies, local authorities and consumers.
This could help remove delays that often slow down the process of getting a new connection.
City Gas Companies Will Play a Key Role
City gas distribution companies have already invested heavily in building pipelines and expanding gas networks across cities and towns.
But having a pipeline network does not automatically mean every nearby household becomes a PNG customer.
PNG Drive 3.0 is therefore expected to focus on converting more homes located within existing network areas into active PNG users.
Cost Could Decide Whether Households Switch
For many families, the biggest question will be how much PNG will cost.
Consumers generally compare PNG with LPG based on fuel prices, connection charges, security deposits, installation costs and convenience.
This means simply running an awareness campaign may not be enough.
A smoother connection process, transparent pricing and faster installation could play a major role in convincing more households to switch to PNG.
Government Has an Ambitious Natural Gas Target
The government wants to significantly increase the role of natural gas in India’s overall energy mix.
Household PNG usage is an important part of this plan because it can create steady demand for natural gas.
At the same time, the country is expanding natural gas usage in areas such as transport, fertiliser production, industries and power generation.
September Launch Could Bring a Fresh Push
If launched as expected in September, PNG Drive 3.0 could give another boost to India’s shift towards a wider gas-based energy system.
The success of the campaign will depend largely on how quickly households can get connections and whether they find PNG affordable and convenient.
For families living in areas where PNG pipelines are already available, the new campaign could make the switch to piped gas easier and faster.
