Lucknow, Nov. 7 -- Chief secretary SP Goyal on Friday directed all departments concerned to expedite pending permissions and no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the expansion of the city gas distribution (CGD) network and ensure a significant increase in piped natural gas (PNG) connections across the state. He was chairing a meeting of the state-level committee constituted for this purpose on Friday. He directed departments to accord top priority to pending applications from CGD companies so that delays in granting permissions do not hamper the expansion of gas pipeline infrastructure. Goyal directed that priority be given to hospitals, police lines, paramilitary establishments, educational institutions, government guest houses, district magistrate complexes and government residential colonies....