In a notable development, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) will offer 65 geographical areas in the 11th city gas licensing round. The 65 geographical areas (GAs) to be bid out in the 11th CGD bidding round include Jammu, Udhampur, Samba and Kathua districts in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Currently, there are 228 GAs authorised by PNGRB in 27 States and Union Territories covering approximately 53 per cent of the country’s geographical area and 70 per cent of its population. While 86 GAs, made up of 174 districts, were offered for bidding in the 9th round that concluded in August 2018, 50 GAs, comprising 124 districts, were offered in the 10th round in 2019.