(a) whether the Government proposes to take steps for increasing the availability of PNG in Jharkhand, Bihar, Madurai city and its surrounding areas and if so, the details thereof along with the percentage of families getting PNG facilities in the said States/city as compared to other parts of the country;
(b) whether the Government proposes to provide CNG in all cities of the country including Bhopal to fulfil the demand of vehicles in the cities, if so, the details thereof along with target, if any, set for providing CNG in various cities of the country;
(c) the details of existing CNG/PNG network across the country along with number of cities covered so far, along with the criteria to set up CNG stations in the country, State/UT/City-wise;
(d) whether the Government proposes to set up new CNG stations/PNG network across the country and if so, the number of such cities identified for the purpose, State/UT-wise including Jammu and Kashmir; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to set up CNG filling station in Kheda district of Gujarat by GAIL and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) to (c): In order to make available clean and eco-friendly fuel, i.e. natural gas to the eastern part of the country, the Government has taken a decision to provide capital grant of Rs.5176 crore (i.e. 40% of the estimated capital cost of Rs.12,940 Crore) to GAIL for development of a 2655 Km long Jagdishpur-Haldia/Bokaro-Dhamra Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) project, popularly known as the “Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga” of Eastern India in a time bound manner. This pipeline will transport Natural Gas to the industrial, commercial, domestic and transport sectors in the States of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The Government has established Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) under the PNGRB Act, 2006 which is the statutory authority to grant authorization for the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network which includes Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) / Piped Natural Gas (PNG) network.
Further, PNGRB is in the process of identifying Geographical Areas (GAs) for future bidding rounds for development of CGD networks, covering various districts in the country which includes the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Tamilnadu depending upon the natural gas pipeline connectivity/natural gas availability and techno-commercial feasibility. The list of the proposed Geographical Areas/Districts in the aforementioned states is at Annexure-I.
Details of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections in the country are at Annexure-II.
(d): Government has set target of one Crore Piped Natural Gas connections for households by 2020 and GAIL has been assigned a target to connect 10 lakh new Households with PNG supplies through its subsidiary/Joint Venture CGD companies in its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) 2017-18.
(e): PNGRB has authorized Nadiad area in Kheda District to Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL) and Anand area in Kheda District to Charotar Gas Sahakari Mandali Limited (CGSML) for development of City or Local Natural Gas Distribution (CGD) network. As on 31.10.2017, GGL is operating 9 CNG stations and CGSML is operating 2 CNG stations in their authorized areas. GAIL has not been authorized for CGD network in Kheda district by PNGRB.