Surat: To ensure uninterrupted and smooth availability of petrol, diesel, gas, and other essential commodities in Surat district, a review meeting was chaired by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (GSPC) Managing Director Avantika Singh at Jilla Seva Sadan today.

Addressing the meeting, Singh stated that adequate stocks of essential commodities, including gas, petrol, diesel, and fertilizers, are currently available across the state. She assured that necessary arrangements have been made to maintain sufficient supply in the future as well.

She further noted that, in view of the prevailing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the district administration and municipal authorities are working in close coordination to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities. She appreciated the coordinated efforts that have enabled smooth distribution across Surat district.

Providing details on PNG coverage, Singh said that Surat city currently has approximately 15.20 lakh domestic piped natural gas (PNG) connections. She added that the government is in constant coordination with oil and gas companies to ensure uninterrupted supply to consumers.

As an incentive, customers applying for new domestic PNG connections by June 30 in areas where pipeline infrastructure is available will receive a discount of ₹500. The amount will be credited to their bill after installation of the connection.

She also informed that the central government has directed states to prioritise the expansion of PNG connections. Accordingly, priority is being given to residential users as well as institutions such as educational establishments and hospitals.

In Surat district, a total of 1,805 applications have been received for commercial PNG connections from schools, colleges, hospitals, old-age homes, orphanages, dairy units, railway canteens, hotels, restaurants, religious institutions, and industrial canteens. Among these, applications from 39 hospitals and 16 railway canteens have already been approved.

PNG connections are also being prioritised for industrial units, community kitchens, summer hostels, and socio-religious institutions to facilitate cooking and operational needs.

District Supply Officer Darshan Shah informed that oil marketing companies HPCL, BPCL, and IOCL have begun supplying 5 kg and 3 kg gas cylinders through their distributors. He also noted that the process for obtaining PNG pipeline connections has been simplified, reducing the approval timeline from 45 days to just 7 days.

The meeting was attended by District Collector Dr Saurabh Pardhi, Municipal Commissioner M. Nagarajan, Resident Additional Collector Vijay Rabari, Municipal Commissioner Dinesh Gurav, Joint Information Director Arvind Machar, District Supply Officer Darshan Shah, along with representatives of oil and gas companies and officials from various departments. DeshGujarat