PNGRB retracts announcements designating 54 city gas networks as common carriers

04 Jun 2024 CW Team

In an effort to put an end to a legal battle between the regulator and the impacted city gas distributors, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has withdrawn notices to declare city gas networks in 54 licensed areas as typical carriers.

The PNGRB revised its April guideline that had formed the basis for notices to 54 city gas licensees in 2021 with a new one, repealing the prior one that had stated networks to be common carriers. The agency stated that it made the decision to remove all of those notices because the previous guideline was revoked.

Regarding the notices, city gas license holders have been suing the PNGRB in court. Companies will immediately withdraw their cases if notices are withdrawn, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. However, the people said that the regulator may once more take action to designate the networks in the licensed areas that have long past their exclusivity period as common or contract carriers. This would be required to promote fair competition among suppliers, lower consumer costs, and increase the nation's gas consumption. India aims to raise the proportion of natural gas from the current 6% to 15% in the main energy mix by 2030. Any further legal challenge to the PNGRB's declaration of the city gas network as a common carrier could come from the argument that licensee profits would be reduced if the monopoly were to be given up.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Aug 2026

Surya Roshni delivers customised lighting for NCRTC RRTS stations

Surya Roshni has supplied customised indoor lighting solutions for 18 elevated stations on the National Capital Region Transport Corporation's (NCRTC) Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), strengthening its presence in India's infrastructure lighting segment.The project involved the design and deployment of lighting systems for platforms, concourses, foot overbridges (FOBs) and back-of-house (BOH) areas. According to the company, the luminaires were developed specifically to meet NCRTC's design, operational and performance requirements rather than using standard products.Surya introduced two custo..

Hilton debuts Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam

Hilton has opened NHAAN Resort & Spa Hoi An, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the debut of the Tapestry Collection brand in Vietnam and expanding its lifestyle hospitality portfolio in Southeast Asia.Located along the Co Co River in Cam Thanh village, the 174-key resort provides access to Hoi An Ancient Town, Cua Dai Beach and the Cam Thanh Nipa Forest. The property has been designed by Vietnamese architect Vo Trong Nghia, incorporating biophilic architecture, locally sourced materials and riverfront landscapes.The resort offers a mix of guest rooms and suites, including family-frien..

Electrent expands lithium energy storage system portfolio

Electrent Energy has expanded its lithium-based energy storage portfolio with the launch of the ESS 850 and ESS 1050, targeting compact and maintenance-free power backup solutions for Indian homes.The new systems integrate a Home UPS and a LiFePO4 lithium battery into a single unit, extending the company's product range following the launch of its ESS 1350 and ESS 2500 models.Designed for apartments and smaller homes, the ESS 850 provides up to 1 hour 15 minutes of backup, while the ESS 1050 offers up to 1 hour 45 minutes on a typical 400 W household load. The systems can power essential appli..