By Kavita Sharma
Photo Credit: The Suncity News
Patna, May 18, 2026: Under the aegis of the Department of Food and Customer Protection, Government of Bihar, the sixth meeting of the Crisis Management Group (CMG) was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit.
The high-level review focused on the expansion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections, the supply of LPG cylinders, and the availability of petroleum products across the state.
Rapid expansion of gas network in Bihar:
Officials highlighted significant progress in the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network.
With Saharsa (May 5) and Banka (May 18) being added, gas connectivity has now reached 20 districts, covering more than 50% of the state.
The monthly PNG connections surged from 3,000-3,500 last year to 10,952 in April 2026, with 6,252 new domestic PNG connections added in May (till May 18).
A total of 1.15 lakh active connections in Bihar, including 70 new industrial/commercial consumers added in the last two months, and gas sales volume rose by 27% in April (compared to March).
The review noted that LPG supply remains largely stable, with an average daily refill supply of 3.59 lakh cylinders, and the delivery backlog is 4.33 days, with efforts underway to reduce it further.
To curb irregularities, large-scale inspections were conducted at 30,500 gas agencies, and 29,663 establishments were inspected.
Fuel availability and demand trends:
The chief secretary stated that all 3.590 petrol pumps across Bihar are functioning normally.
With the ongoing agricultural season, diesel demand has increased by 10%. Oil companies remain prepared to ensure an uninterrupted supply.
Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit issued several directives to agencies, including Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum, and GAIL.
He directed the oil marketing companies to clear the PNG backlog and expedite the disposal of 31,774 pending applications in mission mode.
He also directed the District Magistrates to resolve land issues for CGS/DRS in non-gasified districts such as Kaimur, Siwan, and East Champaran. He also asked the District Magistrate of Madhibani for the forest clearance and fast-track pending NOC in the district.
Pratyaya Amrit directed all district magistrates and oil marketing companies to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply for telecom towers and construction projects, and 6 kg LPG cylinders for workers and small consumers across Bihar.
Concluding the meeting, the Chief Secretary assured that there is no acute shortage of LPG, petrol, or diesel in the state.
“All systems are functioning smoothly, and the situation remains fully under control,” he stated.
Also Read: Bihar CS Pratyaya Amrit visits Nalanda University, praises net-zero campus model.
EOM.
