Question : Setting up of Retail Outlets

(a) the details of existing network of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and petrol pump outlets in the country including the number of cities covered under this network along with steps taken to cut CNG prices in proportion to international prices and fix uniform rates of CNG in various parts of the country, State/UT-wise including Delhi NCR region and Haryana;
(b) whether the Government provides any subsidies on petroleum products to Armed Forces particularly to physically disabled or to the families who have lost their members in casualties and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has received proposals/demands from various States to set up CNG stations and connect them with CNG pipelines in various cities to control the increasing air pollution in the country and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon, State/UT-wise including Haryana;
(d) whether the Government proposes to accord public utility status to City Gas Distribution (CGD) Networks and if so, the details thereof along with its likely benefits ; and
(e) whether bidding for licenses to retail CNG have been conducted and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a): The state wise number of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations as on 30-09-2016 along with geographical area/cities covered is at Annexure-I. As on 01.4.2016, approximately 56190 petrol pumps are being operated by the three public sector Oil Marketing Companies. As on 30-09-2016, the total number of CNG stations is 1167 out of which 705 CNG stations are operating from petrol pumps.
Domestic gas is being provided to all the City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities operating in different parts of the country, including NCR and Haryana, for CNG(Transport) and Piped Natural Gas {PNG (Domestic)} at uniform base price. However, the price of CNG/PNG may
vary from State to State due to difference in operating/infrastructure cost of the concerned CGD entity and State levies.
(b): As informed by the Oil Marketing Companies, there is no provision of subsidy on retail sale of petroleum products to Armed Forces, including physically disabled or to the families who have lost their members in casualties.
(c): Under the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Act, 2006, PNGRB is the statutory authority to grant licenses for the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network which includes PNG/CNG network. Requests are received from various State Governments from time to time. Based on these requests, PNGRB considers a Geographical Area (GA) for development of CGD network in a phased manner depending upon the availability of pipeline connectivity and gas sources. The details of existing CGD network in the country, including the State of Haryana are at Annexure-II.
PNGRB has so far conducted 7 rounds of bidding for award of authorization for laying, building and operating a CGD network. Presently, 78 Geographical Areas are covered under CGD Network, including PNG/CNG network.
Presently, there are approximately 33.27 lakh PNG household customers and 27.5 lakh CNG vehicles in the country.
(d): The Government considering the expansion of PNG network to be public utility has advised all the State/UT Governments to extend all possible support to the CGD companies to issue appropriate directions for rationalizing the charges and time limits for granting permissions by respective authorities for laying gas pipeline network across the country. The expeditious development of CGD network including PNG network will ensure the availability of ecofriendly and clean fuel to the households, industries and transport sector.
(e): Concerned CGD entities (as in (c) above) are competent to set up a mechanism for retail CNG in their respective Geographical Area.