As the Middle East conflict continues to strain global energy supplies, the government is pushing for faster expansion of piped natural gas (PNG) connections across the country. But the plan is facing a major hurdle. A shortage of certified gas plumbers has slowed the rollout, with city gas distribution (CGD) companies currently adding only 8,000-10,000 household connections a day, far below the government’s target of 100,000 daily connections.The ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) has set a target of providing 125 million domestic PNG connections by 2030. However, industry executives say the lack of trained manpower for last-mile installations has emerged as a major bottleneck in the rollout.Across cities such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, more than 6 million homes already have PNG pipelines laid up to their doorstep but are still dependent on LPG cylinders as installation work inside homes remains incomplete.The shortage is particularly affecting the final stage of the connection process, which requires certified gas plumbers trained in gas-pressure systems, leak testing and safety protocols. Industry players say the work cannot be treated as standard plumbing.So far, India has delivered around 16 million PNG connections against a pro-rated target of 40 million, raising concerns over the pace of expansion needed to meet the 2030 goal.Contractors working with CGD companies generally assign plumbers a target of three household connections per day. Industry estimates suggest that bridging the existing gap would require tens of thousands of certified plumbers working continuously for several years.To address the shortage, CGD companies have reportedly begun hiring water plumbers and training them through short-term crash courses lasting three to four weeks. However, industry insiders described the arrangement as temporary and insufficient for long-term expansion.India’s formal plumbing training system operates through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), where trainees undergo a one-year National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) course covering pipe systems, pressure testing and safety procedures. The country currently has 14,312 ITIs, including 2,204 government-run institutions and 12,108 private institutes.Despite the large network of training institutes, plumbing continues to attract fewer candidates than trades such as electrician, fitter and diesel mechanic, limiting the number of certified workers entering the sector.According to the Indian Plumbing Skills Council (IPSC), India has an estimated 800,000 plumbers, but nearly 80% of them cannot find work. The organisation also estimates that more than 90% of plumbers in the country lack formal training and rely entirely on on-the-job experience. Including informal workers, India’s overall plumbing workforce is estimated at 4.2 million. However, gas plumbing requires separate qualifications and certification standards.Industry executives also pointed to low wages as a challenge in attracting workers to the sector. The average plumber in India earns roughly Rs 18,000-Rs 20,000 per month, while gas plumbers working for CGD contractors are usually paid on a piece-rate basis for every completed connection.The rollout of PNG connections also remains uneven across states. Maharashtra and Gujarat account for more than half of existing connections, while several other regions continue to report low penetration levels.Rajasthan has directed CGD companies to connect 1,43,000 households within 45 days and mobilise 5,000 trained plumbers through ITIs. However, industry executives said such measures would take time to produce results.Industry executives also said consumer hesitation has affected PNG adoption in some areas, with households expressing concerns that future price increases could reduce the cost advantage over subsidised LPG.
