The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) organized a roundtable conference on gas-based mobility at India Habitat Centre on Monday. The event brought together government officials, industry leaders and experts to discuss the role of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in India’s transportation sector.
The conference, themed “Gas se Gati, Bharat ki Pragati,” was held under SIAM’s Gas Mobility initiative to promote clean and efficient gas-based mobility solutions. Participants examined gas-based mobility’s potential for sustainable urban and long-haul transportation across India.
Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director of SIAM, highlighted India’s position in gas-fuel utilization during his opening address. “Today’s initiative reflects the commitment to further Gas-based mobility in India. Globally, we are the largest Gas-fuel utilizing country in the mobility sector, and we are not stopping there. Industry is committed to CNG adoption. India started adopting CNG for cars, and gradually, we became the biggest gas-based bus and three-wheelers fleet operating nation. Last year launch of world’s first 2W CNG vehicle marks another milestone in India’s CNG journey,” he said.
Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Heavy Industries, emphasized the automotive industry’s role in achieving carbon neutrality. “India’s USD 240 billion auto industry is pivotal to achieving carbon neutrality by 2047 and advancing Viksit Bharat through reduced fossil fuel dependence. Gas-based mobility, supported by the PLI scheme with three CNG vehicle components and 11 of 103 components for gas powertrains, is a key driver for the same. Localisation of these components and technologies will strengthen efforts towards Atmanirbhar Bharat while positioning gas mobility as a critical factor in our sustainable and self-reliant future,” he stated.
Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, addressed agricultural waste conversion potential. “The agriculture sector generates 228 MMT of agri waste, contributing to poor air quality with health costs estimated at USD 35 billion. Converting just 10% of our oil imports to CBG could have a transformative impact. With only 200 CBG plants in India, demand creation is critical, and Indian auto OEMs can lead by building a global hub for green automobiles. CNG infrastructure upgrades will pave the way for CBG adoption, enabling farmers to convert agricultural waste into energy, reducing stubble burning, and positioning India to capture the global market,” he said.
Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Director at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., discussed infrastructure development progress. “The transport sector is pivotal to India’s energy transition. The government’s continuous support has achieved the target of installing nearly 10,000 CNG stations by 2025. A domestic gas pricing mechanism has created employment for 3 lakh people. Compressed Biogas (CBG) transforms rural infrastructure, benefiting farmers, pollution control, and the economy. LNG’s role in sustainable mobility is promising with enhanced distribution infrastructure. India leads in CNG two-wheelers, with OEMs driving innovation, improving fuel efficiency from 26 km/kg to 34 km/kg, and dedicating more R&D for consumer-friendly solutions,” he noted.
Dr. Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Member of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), addressed pollution challenges in Delhi NCR. “Delhi NCR, with PM10 emission averaging over 200 last year, faces multisectoral pollution. The CAQM is working in mission mode, phasing out end-of-life vehicles, redeveloping 68 roads in Delhi NCR to control dust, and reducing stubble burning by 86% in Punjab and 66% in Haryana. Transitioning to CNG, CBG, and LNG is a necessity, not a choice. Bio-CNG’s decentralisation potential can turn pollution into power,” he highlighted.
Dr. Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson of PNGRB, delivered the keynote address on energy transition. “The energy transition in India’s transport sector is well underway, with decarbonisation playing a pivotal role. With the manufacturing sector contributing heavily, the gas sector is utilising existing infrastructure to drive this shift. The strong growth in CNG adoption as a transition fuel is a success story we must continue to advance, ensuring gas-based mobility supports India’s sustainable future,” he stated.
The conference featured thematic sessions on accelerating future growth and promoting gas-based mobility. Ved Prakash Mishra, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, chaired the session. “SIAM is consistently supporting the Government in sustainable initiatives and gas-based mobility. Until the transition to EVs takes place, gas will continue to play an important role. The use of gas can help reduce pollution and CO₂ emissions. Over the last 10 years, significant positive changes have been observed in Delhi with the increased adoption of CNG. Our aim is to reduce pollution and achieve a cleaner future by strengthening collaboration to facilitate gas-based mobility,” he said.
Dr. Mukesh Sharma, Professor at IIT Kanpur, presented research findings on air pollution reduction. “Air pollution, high oil dependency, greenhouse gas emissions, and fuel cost volatility pose significant challenges to India’s mobility. IIT Kanpur’s source apportionment and action plans for 18 non-attainment cities, including Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur, are critical for targeted interventions. Transitioning from BS-IV to CNG vehicles has achieved up to 90-95% PM reduction, highlighting the transformative potential of gas-based mobility in improving air quality and sustainability,” he noted.
Panel discussions included presentations on expanding city gas distribution networks, challenges in gas-based mobility, and emerging automobile technologies. The session on CBG and LNG featured insights from NITI Aayog and industry representatives.
Venugopal Mothkoor, Senior Specialist at NITI Aayog, outlined the roadmap to net zero by 2070. “NITI Aayog’s roadmap to net zero by 2070 addresses India’s growing transport demands as a developing economy. LNG and electric trucking will play significant roles, with LNG remaining critical while EV charging infrastructure develops. CBG, like ethanol with its successful 20% blending from rural raw materials, requires bridging CAPEX infrastructure costs to scale up, fostering sustainable mobility and rural prosperity,” he said.
The conference concluded with remarks supporting gas-based mobility as a cornerstone of India’s sustainable transportation ecosystem, aligning with the nation’s carbon neutrality target by 2070 and Viksit Bharat vision by 2047.