Giving top priority to these firms for the allocation of domestically produced natural gas would ensure adequate supplies of the green fuel to vehicles and domestic kitchens at reasonable prices at a time when the domestic output of gas is far short of demand.

BHEL has risen to the occasion to complete, in record time, the overhauling of the 140 MW Gas Turbine Generator Unit- 1 of the Pragati Power Corporation at Indraprastha that was lying crippled at a time when Delhi was reeling under one of its worst power shortages.

Compressed Natural Gas, or CNG, whose price was last cut by a steep Rs 14.90 per kg in February, will cost Rs 38.15 per kg from tomorrow as against the current rate of Rs 35.20.

Experts say heavy research and development will allow oil and gas companies to bring down the cost of doing business. If the rupee remains stable over the next 12 months, the sector could be in for a turnaround.

Compressed Natural Gas , or CNG, will cost Rs 35.20 per kg from Saturday as against the current rate of Rs 50.10 per kg.

\"We note that this is only a temporary relief to consumers as the domestic natural gas prices will almost be doubled from the current $4.2 from April 1, thus forcing the CGD companies to raise CNG/PNG prices to pass on the increased costs,\" Goldman Sachs said in a research note.

Oil Minister M Veerappa Moily also said the government has decided to raise allocation of natural gas from domestic fields to city gas entities by cutting supplies to non-core sectors like petrochemicals, steel and refineries.

The Union cabinet approved a new formula for gas pricing - to come into force from April 1 - which, it believes, will incentivise gas production in the newer gas fields of the country. Such fields currently find exploration unviable given the existing gas price which is linked to oil prices for subsequent five years.

A day after hiking CNG price by a steep Rs 4.50 per kg, Indraprastha Gas  Ltd (IGL) on Friday said the rate increase were forced by court orders that led to cut in allocation of cheaper domestic natural gas.

CNG or compressed natural gas price in New Delhi was on Thursday hiked by a steep Rs 4.50 per kg, the second increase in rates in three months.

The government's decision to double natural gas prices from April 2014 will translate into an increase of Rs 8.20-Rs 11.72 per kg in CNG rates in Delhi and Mumbai.

CNG sold to automobiles in Delhi will now cost Rs 41.90 per kg from as compared to Rs 39.90 earlier. The rates of CNG in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad have been hiked by Rs 2.25 to Rs 47.35 per kg.

CNG sold to automobiles in Delhi will cost Rs 41.90 per kg from Tuesday as compared to Rs 39.90 currently. The rates of CNG in neighbouring Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad have been hiked by Rs 2.25 to Rs 47.35 per kg.

Citing higher input costs, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), has again raised the price of compressed natural gas (CNG), this time by Rs 1.55 per kg to Rs 39.90. A year ago, in January 2012, it was selling CNG at Rs 33.75 a kg. 

The new consumer price of CNG in Delhi (Rs 39.90 per kg) and Noida, Greater Noida & Ghaziabad (Rs 45.10 per kg) would be effective from midnight Friday.

Indraprastha Gas Ltd is keen to buy Asian Development Bank's 5.2 per cent stake in Petronet LNG Ltd, the nation's largest liquefied natural gas importer.

It has taken a long time, but piped natural gas is slowly replacing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) packed in cylinders as fuel across industrial units and kitchens in several pockets of the country.

CNG price in the national capital and adjoining towns was hiked by a steep Rs 2.90 per kg, the third increase in rates this year.

The shares of Indraprastha Gas failed to extend its gains on Monday after the Delhi High Court on Friday had ruled in its favour in case of CNG pricing. In late trade on Monday, its shares were down over 5 per cent on profit-taking to Rs 235.

The Delhi High Court made it clear that Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is not \"empowered\" to fix or regulate the maximum retail price at which the gas is to be sold by retailers.