Around 20,000 houses along Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, and the city's southern outskirts will receive piped natural gas (PNG) within the next 18 months, said M Thirukumaran N T, regional head (Kanchipuram) of THINK Gas, which holds licences for Kanchipuram. The company currently has 5,500 active domestic connections, nearly 60% of them concentrated in Sholinganallur, Thiruporur, Thalambur, and Thaiyur along OMR. We have created adequate infrastructure across OMR, parts of GST Road beyond Tambaram, and southern suburbs. Expansion work is ongoing," he said, adding that pipeline networks have been looped with multiple supply sources to ensure uninterrupted service even if one line is disrupted. While infrastructure is in place, the company is facing challenges in driving demand. In many shared living spaces, especially bachelor accommodations, residents don't seek gas connections as they depend on food apps or office canteens. We have identified potential high-rises like Hiranandani (Siruseri) where work could begin soon," he said. The process of getting a PNG connection has been simplified. Pipelines with valves are already laid along main roads and can be extended to individual homes. For high-rises, gas risers up to 28 metres are provided. Pipeline expansion is hampered by strict work-hour limits, allowing activity only between 11pm and 5am, with effective hours reduced to five due to setup and clearance. Approvals are slow, taking two months from highways and another month from traffic police, while 45-day permits lapse during processing. Gas firms have asked TIDCO to implement single-window clearances to cut timelines to five-seven working days.
 

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