India to Establish 18,336 CNG Stations by 2032

India is set to significantly enhance its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure, with plans to establish 18,336 CNG stations across the country by 2032. This was revealed by Suresh Gopi, Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Announcing a major milestone in the development of the City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network he noted, "Following the successful completion of the 12/12A CGD bidding round, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorized entities to expand the CGD network across 307 Geographical Areas (GAs). This expansive network will cover nearly 100 percent of the country's geographical area, spanning around 733 districts across 34 states and Union Territories."

"The Minimum Work Programme (MWP) outlines a target of establishing 18,336 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations throughout the nation by 2032. To bolster CNG usage, the government has introduced several initiatives, including the diversion of domestic gas from power and non-priority sectors to fulfill the needs of the CNG (Transport) and PNG (Domestic) sectors," the Minister said.

"Additionally, the CNG (Transport) and PNG (Domestic) sectors have been designated as the highest priority for domestic natural gas allocation. The government has also ensured that these sectors receive priority in the supply of High Pressure High Temperature (HP-HT) gas in any situation requiring proportionate gas distribution during the bidding process," he said.

However, it should be noted that expanding the CNG infrastructure in India presents significant challenges, particularly in infrastructure development and public adoption. Building a nationwide network of CNG stations involves substantial investment and logistical coordination, including securing land, constructing stations, and establishing distribution pipelines.

To address these issues, the government is providing regulatory support to streamline approval processes and facilitate private sector investments through incentives and public-private partnerships.

Moreover, public adoption of CNG vehicles also poses a challenge, as many potential users may not be fully aware of the benefits or may have concerns about infrastructure availability. This can be overcome with financial incentives such as subsidies to reduce the cost of CNG vehicles, creating awareness programmes to highlight the environmental and economic advantages of CNG, and improving the visibility and accessibility of CNG stations to reassure users of the infrastructure's reliability.