Household LPG Connections Surge Over Twofold to 32.83 Crore in a Decade
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New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) The total count of LPG connections for household kitchens across the nation has seen a remarkable rise, exceeding 32.83 crore as of November 1, 2024, up from 14.52 crore in 2014, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas' year-end review published on Tuesday.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), approximately 10.33 crore LPG connections have been allocated to underprivileged families, allowing them to purchase cooking gas at a subsidised rate. Since the program's launch, around 222 crore LPG refills have been provided to PMUY households, with about 13 lakh refills being utilized daily, as stated in the official report.
A targeted subsidy of Rs. 300 per cylinder is being extended to all beneficiaries of Ujjwala.
The government's initiatives have contributed to a significant increase in LPG consumption among Ujjwala households. The per capita consumption of domestic LPG cylinders has risen from 3.01 kg in 2019-20 to 3.95 kg in 2023-24, with the current year showing a pro-rata consumption of 4.34 kg till October 2024, the report detailed.
As of November 2024, about 30.43 crore LPG users are part of the government’s PAHAL scheme, which directly credits LPG subsidies to the bank accounts of beneficiaries earning below Rs 10 lakh annually. Furthermore, over 1.14 crore customers have voluntarily opted out of their LPG subsidy under the 'GiveItUp' initiative, as noted in the statement.
Since 2014, the number of LPG distributors has grown from 13,896 to 25,532 as of November 1, 2024, improving the accessibility of cooking gas for consumers. Over 90 percent of the newly appointed distributors serve rural areas, as highlighted in the statement.
The year-end review also underscored that the length of operational Natural Gas Pipelines in the country has increased from 15,340 km in 2014 to 24,945 km in 2024, making this environment-friendly fuel more accessible to a larger consumer base.
Currently, the development of approximately 10,805 km of Natural Gas Pipeline is underway. Upon completion, this will finalize the national gas grid, connecting all major demand and supply centers across India, ensuring the easy availability of natural gas throughout various regions, as stated.
Furthermore, 307 Geographical Areas have been designated for the establishment of city gas distribution (CGD) infrastructure for piped cooking gas and vehicle fueling. The goal is to achieve nearly 100 percent coverage of the country's area and population. As of September 30, the total number of piped gas connections and CNG stations in the nation stands at 1.36 crore and 7,259, respectively, as per the review.
