Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has said that India needs to increase the share of Gas in its energy basket from the current 6.5 percent to 15 percent to pursue economic growth in an environment friendly and ecologically sustainable manner.

Addressing a roadshow organised by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board at the launch of 9th City Gas Distribution, CGD bidding round in New Delhi today, Mr Pradhan said, natural gas is the fuel for the future due to its abundance and affordability. He said, there is a huge market for gas and clean fuel in India and transforming into a gas-based economy will ensure climate justice for all.

Mr Pradhan said, the 9th CGD bidding round is the largest and it is covering 20 states and 2 Union Territories. He said, through this bidding, the CGD network will be further expanded to 86 new Geographical Areas covering 174 districts.

The Minister said, until 2014, India had city gas networks in 31 Geographical Areas and the present Government has expanded the coverage of CGD networks to 91 Geographical Areas.

He said, the new Geographical Areas in the expansion of CGD network are mapped in an efficient manner so that it revives industrial clusters across the areas. He said revival of industrial clusters will create extensive requirement of trained manpower and contribute to the economic development of the country.

In his address, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Chairman D K Sarraf said, the 9th round of City Gas Distribution will see 10 million households connected by 2020. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, Petroleum Secretary K D Tripathi also addressed on the occasion.

The government has opened for bidding the biggest city gas distribution licensing round offering 86 permits for selling CNG and piped cooking gas. The bidding round is likely to attract an investment of 70 thousand crore rupees.