India's Green Leap: CNG Stations to Surge to 18,000 in Five Years

India will more than double its network of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations to 18,000 over the next five years, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced on 29 August 2025—marking a significant milestone in the country’s clean energy transition.

Speaking on the progress of the ‘One Nation, One Gas Grid’ initiative, the Minister noted that the number of CNG stations has grown from just 738 in 2014 to over 8,150 today, significantly improving access to affordable and cleaner mobility options for buses, autos, and private vehicles.

India’s city gas distribution (CGD) network has also seen remarkable expansion—from 55 geographical areas in 2014 to 307 at present. The CGD infrastructure now covers 99% of the country’s population and 96% of its geographical area, with 1.52 crore households connected to Piped Natural Gas (PNG).

The Minister also emphasized the rapid growth of India’s natural gas pipeline network, which currently spans 25,429 km and is targeted to reach 33,475 km by 2030, enhancing fuel accessibility and energy security across regions.

In the green energy space, 113 Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants have been commissioned, with 78 more in the pipeline. The government has set CBG blending targets starting at 1% in 2025, rising to 5% by 2028, further supporting the country's decarbonization goals.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.