'Indianmandarins' reliably learns that former CMD, GAIL, B C Tripathi, has inched closer in the race of Chairman, Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). Currently Upamanyu Chatterjee (IAS:1993:MH) is holding the additional charge of Chairman, PNGRB. The post had fallen after S Krishnan (Rtd IAS:1975) completed his tenure in October last year. Though many eminent & prominent names have been in consideration zone namely; former Commerce Secretary Rajeev Kher (Rtd IAS:1980:UP), S K Srivastava (former CMD, OIL) and Prabhat Singh (Director, Marketing, GAIL) but B C Tripathi is said have been considered in the last legs of decision making process. Besides the chairperson, the PNGRB has four members - Member (Infrastructure), Member (Distribution), Member (Legal) and Member (Commercial). PNGRB regulates refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas excluding production of crude oil and natural gas so as and to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas in all parts of the country.