India approves 1,800 km of new LPG pipelines across 6 states with ₹7,000 crore investment to boost supply

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has cleared plans for around 1,800 km of new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipelines, involving an estimated investment of ₹7,000 crore.

The expansion is aimed at strengthening fuel supply networks and reducing reliance on transportation by road, as per PTI.

The regulator has approved three major LPG pipeline projects spanning Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Goa. The projects will be developed by state-run GAIL (India) Ltd, according to a PNGRB statement.

Once completed, the new projects will expand the regulator-approved common-carrier LPG pipeline network from around 7,700 km to nearly 9,500 km, representing a growth of about 23.5%.

The pipeline expansion is expected to strengthen LPG distribution across India, which depends significantly on imports brought in through coastal terminals before being transported to inland markets. A wider pipeline network could make the movement of LPG to consumption centres more efficient and dependable.

The three newly approved projects include a 556-km pipeline connecting Cherlapally in Telangana with Nagpur in Maharashtra, a 611-km line between Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh and Sitarganj in Uttarakhand, and a 633-km pipeline linking Shikrapur in Maharashtra with Goa and Hubli in Karnataka.

These projects add to the previously approved 2,757-km Kandla-Gorakhpur LPG pipeline, which is the country’s longest LPG pipeline.

PNGRB stated the expanded pipeline network would reduce India’s dependence on road transport for moving LPG, thereby lowering the number of tanker movements and enhancing road safety. It is also expected to bring down transportation expenses, ease congestion and reduce carbon emissions.

Moving LPG through pipelines is generally considered safer and more cost-effective for long-distance transportation. Shifting from tank trucks to pipelines could also reportedly reduce the risks linked to transporting hazardous fuel on roads.

The regulator has been working towards reducing the primary transportation of LPG by road to bottling plants, particularly following several major accidents involving LPG tankers. The projects also carry strategic significance for India given the country’s substantial dependence on imported LPG.

Since most LPG imports enter India through coastal terminals, substantial quantities need to be moved to inland markets. A nationwide pipeline network could provide an alternative to road transportation and help ensure uninterrupted supplies during emergencies, disruptions or sudden increases in demand.

The pipelines could also provide “line-pack storage”, enabling LPG to be held within the network as it continues to flow. This additional buffer could give the supply system greater flexibility and help manage short-term interruptions.

The newly approved projects are part of a wider push to develop an integrated LPG pipeline network connecting coastal import terminals with major consumption hubs while easing the burden on road-based logistics.

Garvit Bhirani is a journalist based in Gurugram. He is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint, where he covers national and international news stories, focusing on accuracy and compelling storytelling for readers.

With a total of six years of experience in journalism, he has previously worked with Vaco Binary Semantics for Google, taking on the role of news curation lead, and reported from the field on health, education, and agriculture stories for 101reporters and News9. He has also served as a content editor for entertainment and news media organisations.

Garvit holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and mass communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Gurugram University, respectively. During college days, he joined India’s only non-profit student journalism network, where he anchored daily news updates and produced his own weekly show called ‘Data Fix’.

He was selected for the YES Foundation Media for Social Change Fellowship in Delhi, the Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar residential workshop, and the VOICE Fellowship in Pune.

He holds certificates in COVID-19-verification reporting, data journalism, food & agriculture, tech policy, media literacy and countering misinformation, and tackling election disinformation courses from Thomson Foundation, IndiaSpend, The Dialogue, US Mission in India, and AFP.

He can be reached on LinkedIn or on @garvitbhirani on X

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