Bhubaneswar: The State Capital today became the first city of Odisha as well as eastern India to get compressed natural gas (CNG) station for use by two and three wheelers.
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the station at a filling station in Chandrasekharpur and another at Patia. "By use of CNG instead of petrol and diesel in two wheelers one can save up to 30 to 40 per cent of his oil expenses per month. The benefit will directly go to the auto drivers and scooty riders especially college goers who can save Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 and Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 per month respectively," Pradhan said.
He said while many cities of India are suffering due to pollution, CNG will be a smart fuel for smart city like Bhubaneswar.
"The Centre will invest Rs 5000 crore for pipeline project. From this Rs 5000 crore, Rs 2000 crore is estimated to be invested for development of human resources. In the first phase Rs 1,700 crore will be invested for Compressed Gas Distribution (CGD) 100-100 km Pipeline in Cuttack- Bhubaneswar," Pradhan said. Construction and maintenance of these pipelines will create huge employment opportunities for local youths and it will help in boosting Odisha’s economy, he added.
Considered as people's happy fuel, the CNG's market price is 59/kg. An auto rickshaw can ride 60 km per kg of CNG while a scooter can run up to 80 km in one kg. An auto can keep a four-kg cylinder for use in the vehicle. Similarly, CNG system can be developed in BS-3 model vehicles at a cost of Rs 15,000.
GAIL has associated with Bank of Maharashtra to launch a unique financing scheme which will enable the user to convert his or her scooter to CNG through EMI mode.
GAIl India Director (Projects) Asutosh Karnataka, ED (Eastern Region) KB Singh, PNGRB members Satpal Garg and S K Rath and seniors officers of OMCs were present at this occasion.
Initially, natural gas will reach Bhubaneswar in special containers called cascades which will be transported by road from Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh.
Later, Natural Gas will be supplied through the 2,655 km long Jagdishpur Haldia & Bokaro Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL), popularly known as the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga.
Meanwhile, the BJP accused local government of playing petty politics in the welfare projects of State as no local representative including Bhubaneswar MP and MLA attended the inauguration programme. The State Industries Minister also did not attend the event.
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