The LPG consumers who switched to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections will no longer be required to surrender their LPG cylinders and will retain the option to restore the connection in the future, according to amendments to LPG rules notified by the government on Monday.
Under the earlier rules, which were tightened in March this year amid fears of energy shortages due to the Iran war, consumers were prohibited from holding both connections and had to immediately surrender their LPG cylinders upon obtaining a PNG connection.
However, under the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, consumers can now retain their LPG connection through a transfer voucher mechanism for future use.
The amendment, notified on Monday, aims to provide greater flexibility and convenience to households that obtain PNG connections, particularly those that may later relocate to areas where PNG infrastructure is unavailable.
Under the revised provisions, consumers who avail of PNG connections can apply for termination of their LPG connection within 30 days of obtaining the PNG facility. Alternatively, they may opt for a transfer voucher that would enable future restoration of the LPG connection in non-PNG areas.
According to the government, the move is expected to benefit transferable employees, migrant families, tenants, students and households that frequently shift residences across cities and regions.
Officials said the amendment would ensure that consumers are not permanently excluded from LPG services after transitioning to PNG networks and can seamlessly restore LPG connections if they move to locations lacking PNG infrastructure.
The government had tightened the rules in mid-March to prevent hoarding and ensure subsidised cylinders reached rural and urban areas lacking pipeline infrastructure by enforcing a strict ‘One Household, One Gas Connection’ policy.
The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had earlier stated that households having both a PNG connection and a domestic LPG subscription would have to surrender the latter and refrain from obtaining cylinder refills from any public sector oil company or its distributors.
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Published On:
May 25, 2026 21:37 IST
