Expressindia.com: Pune is all set to get piped Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in time for the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG).
With the Army having given clearance for the Dehu Road stretch of the pipeline project, Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) are hopeful that 50 city buses would be able to run on CNG by October, as scheduled.
“We are optimistic that CNG would be available by the first week of October,” said Shama Sunder, managing director, MNGL. Fifty CNG buses were proposed for the CYG in tune with the Games’ theme of going green.
Pune is tapping into the existing main CNG pipeline from Dahej (Gujarat) to the Dabhol project-Ratnagiri, at Panvel. GAIL is constructing the 66 km stretch from Panvel to Pune, which is complete except for a stretch in defence premises at the Ordinance Factory in Dehu Road. The Army had raised doubts about the viability of the pipeline due to safety concerns.
But on Tuesday, Pune sub area commander Brig R J Sharma said all concerns had been taken care of. “The issue was resolved more than a week ago. There were some objections with regard to the safety of the pipeline, but that has been solved,” he said.
A senior GAIL officer said the work on the pipeline had resumed. “We expect the work to be finished unless rains interfere,” he said.
Even if the pipeline work is held up, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) is certain of CNG supply. “It was decided at a meeting last week that our distributors, Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL), would transport CNG via cylinders, if the pipeline is not laid in time. Either ways, CNG buses would run in time for CYG,” said PMPML chairman and managing director S B Patil.
According to the officer from GAIL, CNG has been procured in cylinder using other means of transport in areas where pipeline facility is unavailable. “But it will be more expensive. The commercial aspects like who will bear the additional cost will have to be discussed between the parties involved,” he said.
Once the pipeline is complete, buses would be expected to come to MNGL’s Chinchwad mother station for fuel. However, six CNG pumps have been identified across the city, but they will not be operational by October. They would be functional only in next year, an MNGL officer said.
The CNG equipped buses is being supplied by Ashok Leyland and will be available by the first week of October, Patil said. The Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) have formed a joint venture company, MNGL, to distribute CNG in the state.