Bhubaneswar, Oct 18 (PTI) The much-awaited pipednatural gas (PNG) supply is all set to be launched forresidents of Bhubaneswar on October 20 as part of a Rs 4,000-crore project to provide cost-effective and green fuel.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister DharmendraPradhan is likely to launch the PNG supply by GAIL (India)Ltd, almost "six months before the deadline".
The company will start supply of environment-friendlyPNG in 255 houses in NALCO Nagar area in the first phase, GAILDirector (Projects) Ashutosh Karnatak told reporters today.
The state-owned firm has a market share of over 75 percent in natural gas transmission.
Karnatak said GAIL is looking to expand its network to18,000 km from 11,000 km in the next five years.
City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in Bhubaneswarand Cuttack are being taken up in parallel with the Jagdishpur– Haldia and Bokaro – Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL),popularly known as 'Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga', he said.
In Odisha, natural gas pipeline will be constructed atan estimated investment of Rs 4,000 crore and have a length ofabout 769 km covering 13 districts, Karnatak said.
The pipeline will connect major industrial clusters ofKhurdha, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar,Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kalinganagar, Jajpur and Paradip,he said.
It will also cover Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul,Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Debagarh, Jagatsinghpur,Cuttack, Khordha, Puri and Kendrapara districts.
PNG supply in NALCO Nagar was to commence by March,2018 on a pilot basis.
GAIL, however, took up the project on war-footing andwill commence supply of natural gas almost six months beforethe deadline, Karnatak said.
The company also plans to provide PNG connections toadjacent Jeevan Bima Colony and Maitri Vihar Colony, coveringa total of 1,000 houses. Assessment is being carried out forPNG supply to leading hotels, hospitals and industrial unitsof the city as well, he said.
Describing PNG as "happy fuel", Karnatak said it isnot just eco-friendly, but is one of the most safe fuels.
Initially, natural gas will reach Bhubaneswar inspecial containers called 'cascades' which will be transportedby road from Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh. Later, it will besupplied through Jagdishpur – Haldia and Bokaro – DhamraNatural Gas Pipeline.
The pipeline is under construction and likely to becommissioned by 2019.
In Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack, the number of PNGconnections will gradually be ramped up in the next three tofive years. Moreover, 25 compressed natural gas (CNG) stationswill be commissioned in the twin cities.
In Bhubaneswar, construction activities of CNGstations have already been taken up and supply will becommenced at the earliest, the GAIL official added. PTI SKNRBT.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.
