Odisha's Urban Shift: Piped Natural Gas Over LPG

The Odisha government has declared a keen swing to piped natural gas (PNG) for urban households, focusing on elevating the standard of cooking gas supply while combating irregularities related to LPG distribution. Key ministers and senior officials, alongside major oil corporations, convened to affirm a collaborative strategy to expedite this transition.

K.C. Patra, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister, stressed the need for digital safeguards to protect consumers and ensure resource optimization by decommissioning existing LPG connections once PNG is accessible. Urban hubs like Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are slated for immediate integration to alleviate reliance on LPG.

Infrastructure development for PNG is a priority, especially in preparation for cultural festivities like the Rath Yatra in Puri. The government aims at eliminating 'ghost deliveries' through strict compliance with the Delivery Authentication Code (DAC), promising uninterrupted supply to crucial sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.