India’s common-carrier LPG pipeline network is set to expand by nearly 24%, with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) authorising around 1,800 km of new pipelines involving an estimated investment of Rs 7,000 crore. The move aims to strengthen supply security and reduce dependence on road transportation of cooking gas.
The three projects, to be developed by GAIL (India), will traverse Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Goa. On completion, the PNGRB-authorised common-carrier LPG pipeline network will increase to around 9,500 km from 7,700 km, an expansion of nearly 23.5%.
The expansion comes against the backdrop of India’s continued reliance on imported LPG. “India imports bulk of its LPG supply which are imported at coastal locations, and need to be hauled across to all parts of India,” PNGRB said. The new infrastructure will strengthen the inland transportation network from these coastal supply points.
The authorised projects comprise the 556-km Cherlapally-Nagpur pipeline, linking Telangana and Maharashtra; the 611-km Jhansi-Sitarganj pipeline, connecting Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand; and the 633-km Shikrapur-Goa-Hubli pipeline, connecting Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.
The approvals build on the earlier authorisation of the 2,757-km Kandla-Gorakhpur LPG Pipeline, which PNGRB described as the country’s longest LPG pipeline. The regulator said the new projects would “further expand and strengthen the country’s LPG pipeline network”.
A key policy objective is to reduce the long-distance movement of LPG through tank trucks. PNGRB said pipeline transportation is “globally recognised as the safest, most economical and environmentally sustainable mode for transporting LPG”.
The projects will “substantially reduce the movement of LPG tank trucks”, improving road safety, lowering logistics costs, easing traffic congestion and reducing carbon emissions through a shift from road to pipelines.
The safety aspect has gained significance following accidents involving LPG tankers. “After recent tragic developments of road accidents involving LPG tankers, PNGRB has been driving the agenda for elimination of primary movement of LPG by road to bottling plants,” the regulator said.
PNGRB also positioned the expansion as an energy-security measure, particularly given India’s dependence on imported LPG.
“As the country continues to rely significantly on imported LPG, an extensive pipeline network provides inherent system resilience,” it said. Pipelines also provide line-pack storage, allowing continuous product movement and improving supply reliability.
According to PNGRB, the expanded network would strengthen the country’s ability to respond to supply disruptions, emergencies and periods of heightened demand, adding another layer of resilience to the LPG supply chain.