Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has accelerated efforts to ensure uninterrupted gas supply and provide new domestic PNG connections amid the ongoing global crisis, with more than 85,000 new domestic PNG connections and over 1,100 commercial connections being issued across the state, Minister and government spokesperson Jitubhai Vaghani said on Wednesday.

The announcement was made after a State Cabinet meeting held in Gandhinagar under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the availability of commercial and PNG gas in the state, along with the status of new connections.

Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Vaghani said the state government acted swiftly to ensure easy access to D-PNG gas for domestic consumers despite global challenges affecting energy supply.

He said Gujarat Energy Ltd. (GEL) alone provided around 40,000 new D-PNG gas connections and restored nearly 13,000 disconnected connections between March 1 and March 17. In addition, the company also provided 500 new commercial gas connections during the period.

Speaking about the statewide situation, the Minister said Gujarat Energy Ltd. and other city gas distribution companies operating in the state have together issued nearly 85,000 domestic PNG connections and more than 1,100 commercial connections.

The government has also prioritized gas supply for public-service institutions, including hospitals, hostels, schools, colleges, and factory canteens. According to Vaghani, GEL has provided gas connections to 110 such institutions, while other city gas companies have covered an additional 225 establishments.

Referring to Morbi’s ceramic sector, Vaghani said the industry, considered a major contributor to the country’s manufacturing landscape, has witnessed a revival due to the state government’s timely decisions and interventions amid the international crisis.

He noted that during the second half of March, rising raw material prices and increased transportation costs forced many ceramic manufacturers in Morbi to voluntarily halt operations. As a result, only 83 factories remained operational as of March 31.

However, with intervention by the state government and GEL, the situation improved rapidly. Within one-and-a-half months, more than 670 factories resumed operations. Currently, around 865 industrial units in Morbi are connected to GEL’s gas pipeline network.

The Minister further said that, following directions from the Government of India, GEL procured natural gas from markets outside the Middle East to ensure an uninterrupted supply amid the prevailing geopolitical situation.

He added that GEL also held discussions with the Morbi Ceramic Association and assured industry stakeholders of stable gas prices for May, which helped restore confidence and enabled industrial activity to resume across the region. DeshGujarat