Guwahati: Pipes laid, but the flow of gas remains a non-starter

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Years after ambitious promises of a citywide piped natural gas (PNG) network, Guwahati residents are still waiting for gas to flow through the pipelines. Despite widespread installation of infrastructure by Purba Bharti Gas Private Limited (PBGPL), there has been no progress on actual gas supply-leaving citizens exasperated and questioning the project's viability.

The PNG project, touted as a cleaner and more economical alternative to traditional LPG cylinders, was expected to revolutionise domestic energy use in the city. PBGPL had earlier announced that gas supply would begin in early 2025, starting with the Zoo Road area. Pipelines have since been laid in multiple localities, including Narengi, Six Mile, Beltola, Bhetapara, and Beharbari.

But with no gas flowing, residents are left staring at unused infrastructure and a series of broken promises.

Speaking to this reporter, a PBGPL official said, "We have laid pipes from Zoo Road to Narengi, Six Mile, Beltola, Bhetapara, and Beharbari. In the first phase, we plan to provide gas in the Zoo Road area. But GAIL is yet to provide the gas."

The company has cited lack of gas supply from GAIL as the primary reason for the delay, but the explanation has done little to ease public concern.

Meanwhile, multiple civic projects across the city have further complicated the situation. In areas where pipelines were installed, roadworks and infrastructure development have disrupted or damaged the network, raising fears that the pipes may become obsolete before they are ever put to use.

A resident of Guwahati expressed, "The roads were dug up for months, and we dealt with traffic congestion and inconvenience. Now, the pipelines are lying unused. What was the point of this entire thing if there is no gas supply?"

Adding to the confusion is the lack of a fixed timeline. While the initial rollout was expected this year, PBGPL has not committed to any specific date for when households can expect to receive piped gas. "There are several factors involved, and until GAIL provides the gas, we cannot move forward," said a company representative.

Consumer rights groups and citizen forums are now demanding greater accountability from both PBGPL and the Assam government. They argue that the public has been misled, and without transparency, the project risks becoming yet another infrastructural failure in the city's growing list of unmet development promises. With no clear path forward, residents are left waiting-caught between unfulfilled assurances and a lack of coordination that threatens to turn the piped gas project into a missed opportunity.

Also Read: Laying of gas pipeline underway in Guwahati city

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