The Centre has amended rules governing domestic LPG connections to allow consumers shifting to piped natural gas (PNG) connections to retain the option of restoring their LPG connection in the future through a newly introduced transfer voucher mechanism.
The decision marks a significant relaxation of earlier restrictions that had required consumers to surrender their LPG cylinders immediately after obtaining a PNG connection.
Under the earlier rules, tightened in March this year amid concerns over possible energy shortages linked to the ongoing Iran conflict and instability in the Strait of Hormuz, households were prohibited from simultaneously holding both PNG and LPG connections.
The government had then enforced a strict “One Household, One Gas Connection” policy aimed at preventing hoarding and ensuring wider availability of subsidised LPG cylinders in rural and urban areas lacking PNG infrastructure.
However, under the newly notified Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, consumers who transition to PNG services will now have greater flexibility.
According to the revised provisions, households obtaining PNG connections can either formally terminate their LPG subscription within 30 days of getting the PNG facility or opt for a transfer voucher arrangement that preserves the possibility of restoring the LPG connection later if required.
The amendment was officially notified on Monday.
Government officials said the move is intended to provide convenience and flexibility to consumers who may later relocate to areas where PNG infrastructure is unavailable.
The revised rules are expected to particularly benefit transferable employees, migrant families, students, tenants and households that frequently move between cities, towns or regions with differing gas infrastructure availability.
Officials explained that under the earlier framework, consumers who surrendered LPG connections after obtaining PNG services often faced difficulties when relocating to areas without piped gas networks because they had to reapply for fresh LPG connections.
The new transfer voucher system is designed to prevent such inconvenience by allowing restoration of the earlier LPG connection without requiring a completely new subscription process.
According to the government, the amendment ensures that consumers are not permanently excluded from LPG services merely because they temporarily shifted to PNG-based cooking fuel systems.
The decision comes against the backdrop of heightened concerns earlier this year regarding possible disruptions to global energy supplies due to tensions in West Asia and fears over the impact of instability on crude oil and gas transport routes.
At the time, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had tightened regulations and instructed that households with both PNG and LPG connections would need to surrender their LPG subscriptions and avoid seeking cylinder refills from public sector oil companies or distributors.
The ministry had justified the earlier restrictions by arguing that dual connections increased pressure on LPG supply chains and could affect availability in regions lacking access to pipeline-based fuel infrastructure.
With the latest amendment, however, the government appears to have balanced supply-management concerns with consumer convenience by introducing a system that allows future restoration of LPG access while still regulating active usage.
Officials said the revised framework is also expected to support the gradual expansion of PNG networks across urban India while ensuring households retain flexibility in fuel choices depending on their place of residence and availability of infrastructure.
