Jaipur, March 27 -- The Union government has increased commercial gas allocation to Rajasthan by 10%, after a request from the state, officials said on Thursday. The state government had earlier urged the Centre for additional gas allocation to meet the growing demand. Following this request, the allocation of commercial gas was increased by 10%, the official said. Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed his gratitude on Thursday to PM Narendra Modi for the decision. Meanwhile, the state government is accelerating the expansion of piped natural gas (PNG) connections across the state, with a plan to develop a 2,000-km city gas pipeline network, to reduce dependence on LPG cylinders. The CM has directed officials to fast-track the rollout of domestic piped natural gas (PNG) connections so that more households can access gas through pipelines. The move is aimed at providing a safer, more convenient, and cost-effective alternative to LPG cylinders. A senior official said that as per recent data, around 480,000 households in Rajasthan are already connected to PNG, with thousands more currently in the pipeline. The government is also encouraging hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other commercial establishments to switch to PNG connections. The official said the expansion of piped natural gas (PNG) connections in Rajasthan reflects sharp regional variation, with the Ajmer-Pali-Rajsamand belt emerging as the frontrunner with over 261,000 connections....