In the 11th city gas distribution (CGD) bidding round, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board offered five geographical areas (GAs), spread over 27 districts across five states. The bids for five GAs were received on April 6, 2022, and a total of seven companies have put in 21 bids for permits. The permits will in turn allow retailing of compressed natural gas to automobiles and piped cooking gas to households in five areas of states such as West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. It also worth noting that many districts have been clubbed into one GA. For instance, the Banka district in Bihar and Godda, Sahibganj, and Dumka districts of Jharkhand have been clubbed into a single GA. Once the bids have been finalised, approximately 88 per cent of the country’s area would be authorised for developing CGD network in order to provide access to natural gas, serving approximately 98 per cent of the country’s population.