PNG rollout creates jobs for ITI youth, 250 hires lined up in Indore

Indore: A crisis-led push to expand piped natural gas (PNG) connections in the city has opened an unexpected employment window for ITI students, with gas companies scrambling for skilled manpower to meet rising installation demand.City gas distributor Avantika Gas Limited has raised demand for around 250 trained workers from mechanical trades such as fitters, plumbers and welders, as the administration accelerates PNG connections across households and commercial units. The surge in demand comes amid restrictions on commercial gas cylinders, prompting industries to shift towards PNG and seek faster connections. In key industrial belts of Indore and Bhopal, around 200 industries have applied for new PNG connections, with industry bodies urging authorities to expedite the process. Companies said it is currently taking around three weeks to get connections, affecting operations."About 80 students from mechanical trades have already been placed and another batch will be placed soon. Avantika has a requirement of around 250 students and we are encouraging candidates from other districts as well to apply. This is helping us secure placements for our students," divisional ITI, Indore principal Reena Solanki said.The hiring push follows a joint initiative between the district administration and industry to align skill training with emerging job opportunities. A recent awareness and guidance programme saw participation from around 150 ITI students, where they were briefed on roles, field requirements and career prospects in the gas sector.Officials said additional teams are being deployed to speed up PNG connections, further driving demand for skilled manpower.With the city gas network expanding rapidly, what began as a supply disruption is now quietly turning into a pipeline of jobs for ITI youth.