Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday inaugurated the supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to 111 villages in the capital, marking the second phase of the government’s ongoing rural gas pipeline expansion. She assured that the remaining villages still without connections will be covered by the end of 2025.
“In the first phase, 130 villages were connected to the pipeline network. Today, in this second phase, another 111 villages are getting access. We now have 116 villages left, and I assure you all that by the end of this year, they too will be connected,” Gupta announced during the event.
Reflecting on the earlier challenges faced by elected officials regarding pipeline installations, Gupta said, “Some MLAs had objections when it came to setting up gas pipelines—I never understood why. If something helps ease the burden of homemakers, what’s the issue?”
She credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for highlighting the need to address basic household necessities, including clean cooking solutions. “Before PM Modi took office, essential needs like toilets and PNG weren’t part of the system. He raised critical issues—smoke in kitchens, lack of toilets—and brought real change,” she added.
Gupta also stressed the safety and reliability of PNG. “We’ve seen accidents with gas cylinders—fires, explosions. With PNG, gas is available round the clock, safely and without interruption. No one imagined that even villages would one day get this kind of infrastructure.”
Delhi Minister Ashish Sood echoed her sentiments, stating, “PM Modi’s vision was to eliminate smoke from Indian kitchens. Until 2022, about 30% of villages still depended on traditional fuels. That has now changed. With these 111 villages getting PNG, a new chapter begins.”
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena was also present at the event, alongside the Chief Minister and other state ministers. The leaders also laid the foundation stone for a 500 KW solar power plant at the Delhi Assembly complex.
“The Assembly building, constructed in 1912 as India’s Parliament, is a significant part of our heritage,” LG Saxena shared on social media platform X. “The adoption of green energy here is a commendable step. We must preserve this historic site and make it more accessible to the people of Delhi.”
