CNG Stations in India: Infrastructure Reality & Smart Tips to Stay Ahead of the Queue

The Big Picture: Infrastructure Is the Backbone

Choosing a CNG car is only half the story — the other half is refuelling convenience. The number and distribution of CNG stations determine whether your daily drive remains hassle-free or turns into a waiting game. In India today, the infrastructure is growing, but regional gaps remain — and for many drivers, that’s the deciding factor.

As of May 2025, India had about 8,154 CNG stations, up from 6,907 in May 2024 — an impressive year-on-year growth of roughly 18%.

The regulatory body Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) reports around 8,340 stations as of August 2025.

Hence, the network is expanding — but here’s the twist: the expansion is not evenly distributed. Many urban and high-demand corridors are saturated; others are lagging.

🏙️ Case Study: Urban Pressure & Queue Realities

Take the metropolitan region of Pune / Pimpri‑Chinchwad for instance — over 6.5 lakh CNG or dual-fuel vehicles compete for just 184 CNG stations. The result: long queues, waiting time anxiety, and frustrated drivers.

This tells us: owning a CNG car is only convenient if your local refuelling infrastructure keeps pace with adoption.

🔧 The Good News: Why the Growth Continues

Several factors are working in favour of CNG infrastructure:

Government and industry target to raise natural gas share in the energy mix to 15 % by 2030.

Authorities have authorised 307 Geographical Areas (GAs) for City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks across nearly 100 % of India’s mainland.

The overall demand for natural gas (including CNG) is expected to rise substantially — supporting more stations and a stronger supply chain.

All of this means: if you rely on CNG, the refuelling infrastructure is moving in your favour — but you still need to be strategic about where and when you refuel.

🧠 Smart Tips: Stay Ahead of the Queue

Check station status ahead of time. Use tools/apps (like CNGWALA) to view nearby stations, gauge queue lengths and estimated wait time.

Refuel during off-peak hours. Early mornings, late evenings or non-rush days often have shorter lines.

Diversify your refuelling targets. Don’t rely solely on one pump. Identify 2-3 nearby stations so you can switch if one is crowded or temporarily closed.

Plan your route smartly. If you're commuting during heavy traffic, map a station along your way home rather than returning to a home-station that may be busy.

Monitor local infrastructure changes. Keep an eye out for newly commissioned stations. A new station nearby can drastically reduce your waiting time.

Be mindful of kit vs station compatibility. Some stations may support high-pressure systems or certain fuel blends — ensure your vehicle’s configuration is compatible.

Maintain a healthy buffer. Since queue times can be unpredictable, keep your fuel buffer higher than minimum before you head out.

❤️ Why This Matters for Drivers

Refuelling convenience turns your “economic win” of driving a CNG car into a real, stress-free daily experience. If you face long queues or station unavailability, your savings erode — wasted time counts too. With the infrastructure data showing growth but still uneven distribution, you — the driver — become your own best planner.

By integrating smart tools like CNGWALA and aligning your refuelling strategy with infrastructure realities, you ensure that your choice of a CNG vehicle remains a victory in both cost savings and convenience.

India’s CNG station network is growing strongly — yet your experience will depend on local availability and how well you plan. By combining foresight, smart tools and awareness of timing and geography, you can make the most of the infrastructure boom and avoid the queue-trap.

The bottom line: infrastructure is the “how” behind your CNG savings — and with active planning, you’ll make it work for you.