PANAJI
Even as the Centre pushes for a rapid shift to piped natural gas (PNG) amid the ongoing LPG supply constraints, the rollout of City Gas Distribution (CGD) in Goa continues to hit roadblocks despite incentives and ready infrastructure on the ground.
In a bid to attract consumers, Goa Natural Gas Pvt Ltd (GNGPL) has waived the Rs 500 registration fee and slashed security deposits by over 50 per cent for small and medium hotels. Yet, adoption remains sluggish, with only 6,500 households currently using PNG even as pipelines have already reached around 100 housing societies and thousands of homes.
GNGPL, a joint venture of GAIL Gas and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), is authorised to supply piped gas in North Goa and Ponda, with a target of 10,000 active consumers in the short term and an annual addition of 1,000 users. However, progress on the ground tells a different story.
Data shows that nearly 1,200 households have already installed meters but have not activated their connections. Reasons range from concerns over charges and deposits to lack of awareness and complications in rented premises.
The gap between infrastructure and actual usage is even starker at the community level. Of the 100 “gassified” housing societies in Tiswadi and Ponda, 3,603 meters have been installed, but only 2,366 consumers are active against a potential of 6,884 connections.
Highlighting the slow pace, GNGPL CEO S Barathy said the company has added just about 90 new connections in the last three months, averaging barely one connection per day, despite infrastructure being fully in place.
“We will ensure that connections are provided in the shortest possible time through a seamless, efficient and hassle-free process,” Barathy said urging residents and commercial establishments to opt for piped gas.
She emphasised that PNG infrastructure is already available across several housing societies and localities, and consumers only need to complete basic formalities to begin using the service. “We are there to help in every possible way. The gas is safe, reliable and ensures uninterrupted supply,” she added.
Officials also flagged delays in approvals from government departments and local bodies as a key hurdle in expanding the network further.
The situation stands in sharp contrast to the Centre’s push for accelerated CGD rollout amid the LPG crisis, where states have been urged to ease approvals and actively promote PNG adoption. In Goa, however, a mix of administrative bottlenecks and consumer hesitation continues to stall the transition, raising questions over the effectiveness of both policy push and ground-level execution.
