Maharashtra has extended permit and fee concessions for domestic PNG connections until 31 March 2027, giving city gas distribution companies continued access to faster approvals, reduced charges and round-the-clock work permissions for expanding underground gas networks across the state.
The Maharashtra Urban Development Department issued a government order extending the concessions, which were earlier scheduled to remain in force until 30 June 2026, according to a report by Navbharat Times. The move has been taken under the Centre’s National PNG Drive 3.0, a campaign aimed at connecting more households to piped natural gas.
Under the revised arrangements, pending applications for laying PNG pipelines before municipal corporations, municipal councils, the Public Works Department, the Water Resources Department and other relevant authorities will be treated as approved. New applications are to be cleared within 24 hours, the report said.
The concessions cover selected permit and local authority charges associated with laying pipelines. Gas companies will also be permitted to work around the clock to speed up pipeline installation and household connections. The extended window is intended to accelerate the expansion of city gas distribution networks in Maharashtra.
The government order also sets out conditions for restoring roads and other public property affected by excavation. If a gas company is able to restore the affected public asset at its own cost, permission can be granted after it submits the required guarantee. Where the company cannot undertake restoration itself, charges prescribed under the relevant Central government notification will be recovered, according to the report.
The road-restoration condition is significant because PNG expansion requires repeated excavation of urban streets and public rights of way. The arrangements place responsibility on gas companies to return affected infrastructure to its previous condition or meet the applicable restoration charges. The report did not specify the number of pending applications or the total length of pipeline covered by the extension.
Maharashtra has appointed the Controller, Rationing and Director, Civil Supplies, as the nodal officer for coordination between departments. The officer will oversee inter-departmental coordination as gas companies seek approvals for pipeline construction and domestic connections.
The state’s decision follows concerns cited in the report over energy supply conditions and pressure on LPG availability amid changing global geopolitical circumstances. The government expects the extended concessions to help more households access PNG while supporting the expansion of gas distribution infrastructure.
National PNG Drive 3.0 is scheduled to run from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Maharashtra’s permit and fee relief will remain available through the end of that campaign, with new applications expected to receive decisions within 24 hours under the government’s directions.
