Northern Railway PNG Transition: IGL to Replace LPG and Diesel
Northern Railway signs an MoU with IGL to switch 22 establishments from LPG and diesel to Piped Natural Gas in Delhi-NCR.
The Delhi Division of Northern Railway has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) to kickstart a massive Northern Railway PNG transition. This strategic partnership aims to move 22 railway establishments across Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar away from traditional fuels toward cleaner energy solutions.
A Major Shift in Energy Consumption
The initiative, finalized on October 31, 2026, is designed to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of railway operations. By transitioning to Piped Natural Gas (PNG), the division aims to replace the daily consumption of approximately 500 kilograms of LPG and 2,500 litres of diesel.
This move is a key component of the government’s National PNG Drive 3.0, which encourages commercial and institutional consumers to adopt cleaner fuel alternatives. Initially, IGL will supply 3,000 Standard Cubic Metres per Day (SCMD) of natural gas, but this volume is expected to surge.
Expanding the Green Network
As infrastructure connectivity grows, the demand for natural gas is projected to rise to between 8,000 and 10,000 SCMD. The expansion plans include extending PNG connectivity to several other regions, such as:
- Ajmer
- Banda
- Rewari
- Muzaffarnagar
Essential Railway Facilities to Go Green
The switch to PNG will provide a cleaner power source for various critical railway services and facilities. The primary beneficiaries include mechanised laundries located at:
- Delhi Sarai Rohilla
- Old Delhi
- Anand Vihar Terminal
- Hazrat Nizamuddin
- New Delhi
Beyond laundries, the PNG supply will also power base kitchens, officers’ rest houses, subordinate rest houses, running rooms, and the lobbies used by guards and TTEs.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
The partnership promises both fiscal and environmental advantages. Pushpesh Raman Tripathi, the Divisional Railway Manager of the Delhi Division, noted that the transition is expected to lower overall energy costs. Looking ahead, the division plans to extend PNG connectivity to railway hospitals and residential colonies.
Subhankar Sen, Chairman of IGL, highlighted the broader national impact of the agreement. He stated that substituting LPG with natural gas will help reduce India’s dependence on fuel imports and alleviate the associated financial subsidy burden on the economy.