Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday inaugurated Guwahati’s first piped cooking gas connections, benefiting 101 households in the initial rollout.
The milestone marks the beginning of a broader city gas distribution project across the region.
The project is being spearheaded by Purba Bharati Gas Pvt Ltd (PBGPL), a joint venture between Assam Gas Company Ltd (AGCL), Oil India Ltd (OIL), and GAIL Gas Ltd, and is tasked with implementing gas infrastructure in Kamrup (Metropolitan), Kamrup, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Sribhumi districts.
Sarma praised the efficiency of the pipeline installation, noting that PBGPL had delivered its first phase ahead of private players operating in other parts of the state.
“With the infrastructure already in place, we can now expand quickly. I encourage residents of Guwahati to switch to piped natural gas—it’s both cost-effective and safer,” he said.
The launch was accompanied by the inauguration of Barak Valley’s first CNG station in Silchar, a significant move toward green fuel adoption in southern Assam.
Sarma also laid the groundwork for extending piped gas supply to nearby towns including Baihata Chariali, Hajo, Sualkuchi, and Rangiya, located in the greater Kamrup region.
Highlighting the state’s progress, the chief minister noted that over 30,000 households have already registered for piped gas services, with more than 6,000 families already receiving last-mile connectivity.
He stressed the need to expedite connections to registered households to further accelerate the project’s impact.
Commenting on the Silchar launch, Sarma called the CNG station a “significant milestone” and confirmed that similar facilities will soon be established in Hailakandi and Sribhumi, completing CNG coverage across all three districts of the Barak Valley.
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He also emphasised the role of upcoming infrastructure projects—like the ring road and new bridges over the Brahmaputra—in easing connectivity to Guwahati, which he said will lead to urban expansion and faster infrastructure development in adjoining areas.
Currently, Assam has 23 operational CNG stations, and Sarma indicated that many more will be added in the near future to meet rising demand.
