Residents of Dumraon in Buxar district, Bihar, have received their first Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections ahead of Diwali 2026, ending their dependence on LPG cylinders and the daily inconvenience of booking, awaiting delivery, and physically transporting them. The service was formally inaugurated at the Textile Colony of Dumraon by District Magistrate Sahila Heer, marking a significant step in the district's domestic energy transition.

What the PNG rollout covers

A total of 498 technically feasible households in Dumraon have been provided with PNG connections under the new prepaid system, according to officials. Gas is now supplied directly to household kitchens via an underground pipeline network, eliminating the need for refillable cylinders entirely. The inaugural connection was commissioned at one household during the formal launch event.

Ankit Kumar, Senior Manager (City Gas Distribution) at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), said connections have initially been provided to five households, with plans to extend the pipeline to all technically feasible homes in Dumraon that meet standards set by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in the coming days.

What District Magistrate Sahila Heer said

Speaking at the inauguration, District Magistrate Sahila Heer acknowledged the speed at which the rollout was completed. 'First of all, I would like to congratulate all the IOCL representatives for installing PNG connections here in record time. A total of 498 technically feasible households have been provided with PNG connections, and today, we have inaugurated the service at one household,' she said.

Heer also confirmed that the PNG network would be expanded to Buxar city and other rural pockets of the district in the near future, signalling a broader infrastructure push beyond the Textile Colony.

Benefits for residents

Beneficiaries, including resident Pooja Jha, described the PNG connection as both practical and cost-effective. The direct pipeline supply eliminates the recurring cycle of cylinder booking, variable delivery timelines, and the physical effort of carrying heavy cylinders — inconveniences that households, particularly those without ground-floor access, have long contended with. The prepaid model also offers consumers greater control over usage and expenditure.

Broader context and what comes next

This rollout is part of India's ongoing push to expand city gas distribution (CGD) networks to Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns and rural clusters under the PNGRB's CGD bidding rounds. Bihar has seen incremental progress on this front, with districts such as Buxar now entering the coverage map. The timing — just ahead of Diwali — carries practical significance, as festive cooking demand typically spikes LPG usage. Authorities have indicated that expansion plans for Buxar city and surrounding rural areas are already under active consideration, suggesting the Dumraon inauguration is a first step rather than a standalone event.