New Delhi, March 28 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection, Chhagan Bhujbal, has called upon the Central Government to provide both technical and financial assistance aimed at accelerating the rollout of the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure throughout the state.

During a significant joint meeting organized by the Centre, Bhujbal emphasized the need for enhancing the availability of clean fuel and ensuring a timely expansion of the PNG network for both residential and commercial usage, particularly in light of the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict.

He proposed that PNG connections should be mandatory for all new housing developments to facilitate broader adoption. Additionally, he advocated for focused outreach initiatives to extend connections to older residential neighborhoods.

Bhujbal highlighted that expanding PNG usage in hotels, restaurants, and small businesses could lower costs and promote cleaner fuel options. He insisted that the licensing and connection processes need to be made more straightforward.

“Maharashtra has already optimized permission processes and standardized rates across different local authorities to advance City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects,” he stated, while seeking dedicated financial and infrastructure support for urban areas in the state to improve project feasibility.

He also urged central agencies to guarantee coordinated and prompt approvals for pipeline expansions and advocated for an increase in the LPG quota for commercial applications to accommodate rising demand.

“The Maharashtra government is actively promoting clean fuel initiatives. To meet these objectives efficiently and within the specified timeframe, we anticipate ongoing cooperation from the Central Government,” Bhujbal remarked.

Pointing out efforts to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles, he mentioned that the state government issued a Government Resolution (GR) with various directives on Friday.

“Pending approvals from municipal corporations, PWD, and Water Resources Departments for laying CGD pipelines will now be regarded as ‘deemed approved’. Local authorities are directed to provide new CGD permissions within a 24-hour timeframe. Fees for road restoration and various permits by local self-governments will be waived to facilitate expansion,” Bhujbal noted.

He added that companies may restore public property at their own expense, subject to quality guarantees. For other instances, fees will be charged as per the central notification dated March 24, 2026. CGD companies will be permitted to operate continuously, with seasonal restrictions lifted.

According to the minister, no separate No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from Chief Fire Officers or Traffic Police will be required for excavating or installing pipelines. Companies will only need to submit a daily work schedule to the relevant departments.

To ensure effective coordination, the Controller of Rationing and Director of Civil Supplies has been designated as the nodal officer for Maharashtra. These special measures will remain effective until June 30 of this year, he concluded.