THINK Gas Urges Stricter Government Action and Public Awareness to Prevent Gas Pipeline Damage in Punjab

THINK Gas Urges Stricter Government Action and Public Awareness to Prevent Gas Pipeline Damage in Punjab

Chief Secretary of Punjab acknowledges THINK Gas’ request for stricter safety enforcement

Chandigarh 26 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : THINK Gas has called for mandatory prior coordination with City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities before undertaking excavation, trenching or horizontal directional drilling (HDD) near underground gas pipelines, emphasising the need for stronger safety enforcement and public awareness across Punjab. With the expansion of gas distribution networks across the state, uncoordinated digging poses significant risks to public safety, property and critical infrastructure. The company has urged government authorities, police, local bodies and excavation agencies to work together to prevent pipeline damage through strict compliance with safety protocols and timely verification of underground utilities before commencing any excavation activity. In this regard, THINK Gas has submitted a letter to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Punjab, requesting stricter safety enforcement and a mandatory approval process involving City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities before any excavation work is undertaken. The letter has been acknowledged by the Chief Secretary.

Authorised by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to develop and operate City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks in Ludhiana, Barnala, Moga, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr districts of Punjab, THINK Gas has expressed concern over the increasing instances of unannounced and unauthorized excavation near underground gas pipelines, posing risks to public safety, property and critical infrastructure. The seriousness of the issue was highlighted by a recent incident in Bhammadi, Ludhiana, near Baba Zorawar Singh Fateh Singh Senior Secondary School, where a pipeline was damaged during excavation, resulting in gas leakage and a subsequent fire. The situation was promptly brought under control by THINK Gas's emergency response team with support from local authorities, including the fire and local police department, underscoring the importance of greater awareness, timely coordination and adherence to safe excavation practices.

THINK Gas has urged mandatory verification of underground utilities and prior clearance from the concerned CGD entity before undertaking any excavation or drilling activities near gas pipelines. The company has also called for wider adoption of the Government of India’s Call Before u Dig (CBuD) platform (cbud.gov.in), which enables excavation agencies to coordinate with underground infrastructure owners before commencing work. Enhanced information-sharing, along with administrative and police support, can further strengthen compliance, reduce accidental pipeline damage and improve public safety. THINK Gas has implemented several safety measures across its network, including isolation valves at regular intervals, pipeline route markers displaying safety information and emergency contact details, warning mats above pipelines, and automated alerts through its central control room to support a prompt response to pipeline damage.

The company has also implemented an Excavator Proximity Detection System (Geo-fencing), which creates virtual boundaries around pipeline corridors and detects excavation equipment, which have GPS enabled, entering designated areas and remaining there beyond a predefined period. THINK Gas has recommended wider adoption of similar monitoring mechanisms across CGD networks as an additional preventive measure. THINK Gas emphasised that preventing pipeline damage requires a collective effort involving government authorities, police, excavation agencies, utility providers, CGD operators and local communities. Greater awareness, responsible digging practices and prior coordination with the concerned CGD entity are essential to preventing avoidable incidents and protecting public safety as Punjab’s gas infrastructure continues to expand. The toll-free number to contact THINK Gas before undertaking any digging activity in its operating areas in Punjab—Ludhiana, Barnala, Moga, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr—is 1800-5727-105. 

About THINK Gas - THINK Gas, the merged brand of AG&P Pratham and THINK Gas, is a leading player in India’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) business. We hold 19 CGD licenses awarded by the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) to exclusively develop CGD infrastructure and provide natural gas across 49 Districts in the 10 states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Our CGD network will supply Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for use in vehicles as well as Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to domestic households, commercial establishments and industries. Over the next few years, our network will comprise ~24,000 inch-km of steel pipelines, 2000+ CNG stations catering to the needs of more than 100 million customers and cover 324,000 square kilometres. THINK Gas has the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in greenfield CGD business in India. Our marquee investors include I-Squared Capital, and the Japanese consortium of OSAKA Gas, JOIN, Sumitomo Corporation and Konoike Transport. We have been recognized for our efforts on various industry forums for our contributions across all business practices – Safety, ESG, Marketing, CRM, Procurement, Sustainability and Risk Management.