Pradhan inaugurates first 2 CNG stations in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Dec 16 (IANS) Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday inaugurated Odisha's first two Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations at Chandrasekharpur and Patia area of Bhubaneswar.

The Minister inaugurated the two CNG stations here under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga scheme to provide cheaper, environment-friendly and safer fuel to the CNG-run scooters and auto rickshaws.

Two more stations are being constructed in Khandagiri and Tamando in the capital city while a total 25 CNG stations will be commissioned in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

"Today, two CNG stations were inaugurated to provide cheaper and safe fuel. We will talk with other stakeholders including Ola, Uber, Government vehicles for adopting CNG. The Government aims to convert all the vehicles on the roads into CNG," said Pradhan.

He said with Prime Minister Narendra Modi focusing on look east policy, eastern India would be developed at par with western India with various such initiatives.

The Minister will also lay the foundation stones for new Dhamra-Angul 36 inch main line and Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Paradip 12 inch spur line on Sunday, which are part of this pipeline project.

"A total of Rs. 5000 crore would be spent in Odisha. While foundation stone would be laid on Sunday for Dhamra-Angul gas pipeline, the tender process for Angul-Jharkhand line would be completed by January first week next year," said the Petroleum Minister.

Informing about the City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, he said the overall capital expenditure for the Bhubaneswar and Cuttack CGD projects will be Rs. 1,700 crores, of which Rs 400 crores will be spent in the next three to five years.

"Initially, natural gas will reach Bhubaneswar in special containers called 'cascades' transported by road from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Later, it will be supplied through the 2655 km long Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) popularly known as the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga," informed Gas Authority of India Ltd Director (Projects) Ashutosh Karnatak.