IGL to add 50 more CNG filling stations in the capital

Viewing the rising demand of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) on the backdrop of skyrocketing petrol and diesel prices, the government of Delhi has decided to open 50 new filling stations across the national capital region, as stated in a Union Petroleum Ministry release.

The Ministry, after receiving several complaints from the consumers of facing CNG crisis and long queues, has directed the Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL)- the government agency that acquires the authority for establishing CNG filling stations- to expand with 50 more filing stations in the capital thereby providing relief to consumers from the long queues.

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The Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora in this regard has urged to Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit to allot adequate lands to IGL for setting up CNG filling stations and provide single window clearance to tackle CNG demand at apace. The Petroleum Minister has convened a meeting of all stake holders of CNG supply and distribution along with IGL on Sunday to review the status of CNG supply in the capital, where he found that the large number of CNG vehicles have been risen in multiple folds in the capital in which 250% hike has been held only in private vehicles.

The rising prices of petrol and diesel have led the people to adopt CNG facilitated vehicles, which spread no pollution, and government is also providing some subsidy on CNG based public vehicles to boost it in the view of keeping Delhi neat and clean, especially during in Commonwealth games 2010.

Murli has also asked the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana government to hold talk with IGL and give it proper clearance to establish the CNG filling station as the Near Capital Regions’ consumer have to come in the capital for filling up CNG in their vehicles.

Deora has also asked Gas Authority of India Limited and IGL to introduce an insurance scheme for the auto rickshaw drivers on the line of Mumbai where Rs. 1 lakh compensation is provided to driver or his kinsmen for any mishappening during driving due to CNG. Deora has also asked IGL to allocate exclusive filling stations to auto rickshaw to cut their long waiting lines and to ensure easiness in the capital.

To make sure Delhi as the World’s largest CNG Capital, the government is providing relief in VAT, Sales Tax and registration on purchase of Battery operated vehicles that emit no pollutants, as said by chief minister Dikshit.

Besides Delhi CM, IGL Managing Director Om Narayan, Gail Chief Managing Director U D Choubey and Delhi, Minister of State for PNG Dhinsha Patel were also present in the meeting.

Addressing in the meeting, IGL MD Narayan informed that IGL is going to enhance capacity of existing filling stations by installing 54 nos. of electric driven compressors that would enhance the compression capacity from 21 lakh kgs/day to 26 lakh kgs/day by December 2008. Moreover, “80 nos. of new preset dispensers are being installed, which would reduce transaction time for CNG filling,” added Narayan.

At Present, IGL runs 163 CNG stations in Delhi and caters to nearly 2.25 lakh vehicles (50% each are public and private vehicles), filling over 13 lakh kgs / day. One month back it was only 11 lakh kg / day. Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is being supplied to around 1.25 lakh households in Delhi.