PATNA, May 26 -- Bihar chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Monday directed gas distribution companies and officials to expedite infrastructure expansion and clear pending backlogs while reviewing the state's domestic piped natural gas (D-PNG), LPG and fuel supply situation at the seventh meeting of the crisis management group (CMG), a press release issued by the chief secretary's cell said. The high-level meeting, convened under the food and consumer protection department, focused on the status of domestic PNG connections, industrial and commercial gas supply, LPG cylinder delivery and the availability of petrol and diesel across the state. Emphasising uninterrupted public services, the chief secretary said no laxity in development work or supply of essential commodities would be tolerated and reiterated the government's aim of making environment-friendly and safer PNG fuel accessible to households across Bihar. Officials said more than 117,000 domestic PNG connections have been made live against a target of 375,000 in the state so far, an achievement of less than one-third. In May 2026 alone, up to May 18, as many as 9,007 new connections were activated. The state has also recorded strong month-on-month growth in PNG adoption, with monthly live connections rising from 2,700 in January to 10,952 in April this year, the release said. In a significant development, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on May 19 launched its first D-PNG service in Baheri block of Darbhanga district, the first among the nine districts allotted to the company. The service has already connected 41 consumers. With this, all six city gas distribution (CGD) companies operating in Bihar have now gasified at least one district each. Of the state's 38 districts, 21 are currently connected to gasified infrastructure. The meeting also noted rapid growth in the industrial and commercial (I&C) gas segment. Over the past two months, CGD entities have added 85 new industrial and commercial consumers, marking an increase of around 22% in the sector. Bihar currently has 461 active I&C gas connections with a daily consumption of 25,890 kg, equivalent to the consumption of nearly 86,300 domestic PNG connections. Reviewing LPG supply, officials said that booking and home delivery services remained largely normal across the state. However, districts such as Rohtas, Saran, West Champaran and Siwan were found to have average delivery backlogs of more than five days, prompting the chief secretary to direct companies to reduce delays immediately, the statement said. The meeting also observed that fuel supply in the state had stabilised after recent panic buying triggered by fears of a rise in petrol and diesel prices. Officials said the market situation was now fully normal with adequate supplies available....