Piped natural gas (PNG), hailed as a safer, cleaner, and more convenient alternative to LPG cylinders, is steadily gaining ground in Thiruvananthapuram. 

Think Gas (formerly AG&P Pratham), the city gas distribution agency, has laid 588 km of pipelines, commissioning 427 km so far, and facilitated 16,195 connections in the city. It aims to add 6,000 more by September and achieve full coverage within six years.  

Work is ongoing in 42 wards, with 80 percent completed in 22 of them, especially in coastal belts where a majority are already consumers. “The project work is in full swing,” said Ajith V Nagendran, Head of Think Gas operations, citing progress in Sreekaryam, Akkulam, Anamugham, Attipra, Kulathoor, and Peroorkada–Nettayam.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorised 33,478 km of national gas pipelines, with 24,945 km already operational by March 2024 and 10,805 km under construction. Across India, PNG is supplied to 1.47 crore households and 45,000 commercial establishments, with targets to reach 12.63 crore households by 2032.