HPCL to Launch Piped Natural Gas in Siliguri by March 2026
SILIGURI / NEW DELHI — Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) has announced the rollout of domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections in the Siliguri sub-division, with the first phase of distribution set to begin by March 2026. The initiative was unveiled by Anuj Kumar, Senior Project Engineer for the HP City Gas Distribution Project, during the PNG Drive 2.0 awareness event held on January 23, 2026.
This project is part of a larger ₹1,700 crore investment by HPCL to develop natural gas infrastructure across three North Bengal districts: Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and North Dinajpur.
Phase 1 Rollout: Siliguri & Outskirts
The distribution will follow a phased approach, starting from the northwestern fringes of the city and moving inward.
- Immediate Target: 500 households in the first wave.
- Phase 1 Goal: Nearly 3,000 households by the end of the initial rollout.
- Geographic Progression: Launching in Bagdogra, followed by Matigara, Shivmandir, and Atharokhai.
Current Infrastructure Status
HPCL has already made significant headway in laying the groundwork for the region's gas network:
- Pipeline Progress: Approximately 60% of the pipeline-laying work in Siliguri’s civic areas is complete. The initial target is a 50km network.
- Jalpaiguri Readiness: Infrastructure for 2,500 connections is already developed in areas like Patkata Colony (launched Jan 23), with Paharpur and Arabinda panchayats to follow soon.
- Challenges: Officials noted that the pace in dense urban areas has been impacted by existing utilities like water mains, electrical lines, and optical fiber cables.
CNG Expansion for Green Mobility
In addition to domestic cooking gas, HPCL is aggressively expanding Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) availability for vehicles to reduce the region's carbon footprint.
- Coverage: CNG stations will be established across Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and North Dinajpur.
- Environmental Impact: The shift to natural gas is expected to significantly maintain the ecological balance of the sensitive Himalayan foothills and North Bengal plains.