Residents waiting for piped natural gas (PNG) connections in Haldwani will have to wait longer after the Municipal Corporation stopped permission for road excavation until Diwali. The decision has temporarily stalled Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) work to lay gas pipelines across the city.

The civic body has told HPCL that excavation permission will be considered only after Diwali. Municipal Commissioner Paritosh Verma said the company had submitted an application, but roads that have already been built will not be opened again for digging.

PNG rollout remains limited

The project began 4 years ago, but progress has remained limited. Only about 1200 consumers in Judge Farm, Heera Nagar and Peelikothi have been connected to PNG so far.

The work initially slowed after the company did not move quickly during the early phase. The Uttarakhand Urban Sector Development Agency (UUSDA) later began work on a major project, which further affected the pace of the gas pipeline scheme.

According to Municipal Corporation sources, the next area planned for household PNG connections is Dahariya. The timing will depend on when road excavation is permitted again and how the work is coordinated with UUSDA projects.

Verma said HPCL representatives had been asked to coordinate with UUSDA before carrying out excavation. He also made clear that newly constructed roads would not be allowed to be dug up.

LPG distribution affected by e-KYC status

The delay in pipeline expansion is separate from action taken by the Indane gas agency at the city’s Saras Market. The agency has ended the connections of 3,000 consumers, including people who had shifted to PNG and those who had not completed electronic know-your-customer verification, or e-KYC.

Agency manager Bharat Khati said cylinder distribution had been stopped for about 2,000 consumers who had not completed e-KYC. He said a domestic LPG consumer joining the PNG network would not have e-KYC completed for the LPG connection.

Information from the agencies indicates that 10 to 12 thousand consumers across different agencies have not completed e-KYC. The reported figures refer to different categories: the agency’s 3,000 discontinued connections include PNG users and people without e-KYC, while the manager separately cited about 2,000 consumers whose cylinder distribution was stopped for missing e-KYC.

For households still waiting for PNG, the immediate effect is a pause in the pipeline rollout. Consumers who rely on LPG may also need to check their e-KYC status with their agency, particularly if cylinder distribution has been stopped.

Conclusion

Haldwani’s PNG expansion will remain stalled until road excavation can resume after Diwali. HPCL must coordinate with UUSDA, while households affected by the LPG action should verify their e-KYC status with the relevant gas agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why has PNG pipeline work stopped in Haldwani?

Road excavation has been prohibited until Diwali, so HPCL cannot continue laying pipelines for now.

Q. When can road excavation resume?

The Municipal Corporation has said permission will be considered after Diwali.

Q. Which areas have received PNG connections so far?

Judge Farm, Heera Nagar and Peelikothi have received connections for about 1200 consumers.

Q. Which area is next for household PNG connections?

Municipal Corporation sources said Dahariya is the next area planned for household connections.

Q. Why have some LPG cylinder deliveries been stopped?

The Indane agency said deliveries were stopped for consumers who had not completed e-KYC. Some consumers had also shifted to PNG.

Q. How many consumers were affected at the Saras Market Indane agency?

The agency said the connections of 3,000 consumers had been ended, while its manager cited about 2,000 consumers whose cylinder distribution was stopped for missing e-KYC.

Q. What coordination has the Municipal Corporation asked for?

HPCL representatives have been asked to coordinate with UUSDA before carrying out road excavation.