Piped natural gas supply inaugurated in 111 Delhi villages
New Delhi: Lieutenant governor V K Saxena and chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inaugurated
piped natural gas
(PNG) supply by
Indraprastha Gas Limited
(IGL) to 111 villages. With this, the number of villages connected by PNG has gone up to 241.
Saxena said the initiative was not merely a technical project, but a solid foundation for a cleaner future. "It not only connects rural areas with clean, safe and affordable energy, but also marks a significant step towards making Delhi an environmentally-friendly and sustainable capital. It resonates with the spirit of Delhi Gramoday Abhiyan, which aims to equip villages with urban-level infrastructure and ensure holistic and balanced development," he said.
Calling it "A Flame of Trust", Gupta described the launch as a beacon of
clean energy
reaching the heart of rural Delhi. "It is the ignition of a new era — one that brings security, dignity and sustainable growth into every household," she said.
With 130 villages already covered in Phase I and 111 more joining Thursday, CM pledged to connect the remaining 116 villages by the yearend.
"Nobody thought there would be a 24-hour supply of piped gas.
Urban areas had started getting access to piped gas supply, but it was not available in rural areas. It was on PM Narendra Modi's call that this was made possible. There are 116 villages still left, where piped natural gas will be made accessible by Dec-end," Gupta said.
LG and CM also interacted virtually with PNG users across four villages of Delhi, apart from handing over PNG connections to 10 users physically on the occasion.
Gupta later chaired a high-level review meeting with officials of the industries department. She said the discussion focused on the needs of traders and industrialists, the future prospects of industrial growth, and govt initiatives to elevate Delhi's status in the fields of trade and industry. Cabinet minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa was also present at the meeting.
Following the meeting, CM announced the formation of a Trader Welfare Board to safeguard the interests of traders. The board will ensure swift redressal of issues faced by the business community, implement welfare schemes, and push for policy reforms that ease the process of doing business. The initiative will establish a robust support system for Delhi's traders and act as a bridge between govt and the trading community by conveying their suggestions and concerns directly to policymakers.
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