CUTTACK: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated two Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations at Sector-1 in CDA and Bidyadharpur in Cuttack on Saturday.
Flagging off a CNG awareness rally Pradhan said the environment-friendly fuel will help reduce air pollution. While many cities in the country are suffering due to transportation pollution, introduction of CNG will be a gift not only for the automobile sector but also for the residents of the city for availing smart and pure fuel, he said.
GAIL (India) Limited is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga and also the City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in various cities, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
While two CNG stations were opened at Chandrasekharpur and Patia in Bhubaneswar, two more are coming up at Khandagiri and Tamando. More than 20 CNG stations will be commissioned in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack in the coming years.
“Implementation of CNG projects will minimise pollution and ensure cleanliness beside making life comfortable,” Pradhan said.
The overall capital expenditure for the twin city CGG projects will be around `1,750 crore of which `450 crore will be spent in the next three years.
Now natural gas is being supplied in special containers which are being transported by road from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. However, provision is being made for Liquefied CNG to be transported in cryogenic tankers from Dahej in Gujarat to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Necessary infrastructure is under construction at Bhubaneswar for the facility.
After commissioning of 2,655 km long Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) under Urja Ganga project, natural gas will be supplied through pipeline. The project will usher industrial development in eastern region.
Pradhan took a ride in a CNG auto from CDA Sector-1 CNG Station to Bidyadharpur CNG station. More than 100 CNG powered autos participated in the rally covering a distance of about 15 km between the two CNG stations.