16 more CNG filling stations of GAIL Gas by January will add to cleaner fuel network in city
BENGALURU:
GAIL Gas on Saturday commenced operations at its sixth company-owned CNG outlet situated in the ITI ‘B’ area at KR Puram.
The CNG station was inaugurated by Tarun Kapoor, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, in the presence of ES Ranganathan, Director-Marketing, GAIL, P Murgesan, ED-Southern Region, GAIL, Vivek Wathodkar, Chief General Manager and Officer-In-Charge, Bengaluru, GAIL Gas, and other officers from GAIL and GAIL Gas.
The new CNG retail outlet is the 22nd station of the GAIL Gas network in Bengaluru. The CNG station has the capacity to refuel CNG in around 7,200 autos, cars and LCVs, and around 200 heavy duty vehicles like buses in a day. It will be operational round the clock to facilitate the availability of green fuel for city dwellers.
35 more in next fiscal
In addition, 16 more CNG stations will commence commercial operations by January 2021. GAIL Gas has ambitious plans of adding a further 35 CNG stations in the coming financial year which will take the total number of CNG stations in the city to 73. With this, Bengaluru will join the big league of CNG-driven cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Indore and Agra.
Locations of existing outlets
The 21 other CNG stations already operational in the city are located in Laggere, Sungadakatte, Jigani, Hardware Technology Park (off the new Airport access road from Hennur), Peenya, Bommasandra Industrial Area, Agara, Bhadrappa Layout (near Hebbal), Sarjapur Road, Hunsamaranahalli (New Airport Road), KIADB IT Park (Kondenahalli), Kattigenahalli (Reva University), Vidyaranyapura, Bannerghatta Road (after NICE Road), Anekal, Honnenahalli (Doddaballapur Road), Devanahalli Town, Machohalli (Magadi Road), Dodaballapur (Near RL Jalappa College), Hosakote and Dommasandra.
In order to increase the availability of CNG across Bengaluru, GAIL Gas plans to commence business in 18 more CNG stations by November 2021 located at Bommasandra (NH), Mahadevpura, Sarjapur Village, Heggondanahalli Village, Goravigere, Pantharapalya Ring Road, Kengeri, Hoskote Village, Yelachahalli Village, Bidarahalli, Thanisandra, Chikkabidarakallu Jindal Nagar, Arishinakunte, Sondekoppa Circle Nelamangala, Herohally Village (Magadi Road), Tavarekere (Magadi Road), Avalahalli Village-Yelahanka, and Kadathanamale-Dodaballapur Road.
Green fuel
CNG is a new-age fuel which scores high as much on its green credentials as for its affordability. On the pollution front, CNG is the most benign of fossil fuels with the least carbon footprint of all. CO2 emissions are lower in CNG by about 27%, CO emissions by about 84%, NOx emissions by about 58% and Particulate Matter(PM) emissions by about 97%. While CO2, CO and NOx adversely impact the environment, PM emissions are one of the leading causes of air pollution-related illnesses in big cities such as Bengaluru.
On the affordability front, the running cost of a CNG auto is about Rs 1 /km compared to Rs 2/km on auto LPG, resulting in savings of about 50%. The running cost of a CNG car is about Rs 2.35/km compared to Rs 4.35/km on diesel, resulting in savings of about 46%. In the case of CNG buses, the savings is around 30%. CNG is therefore a cheaper and socially responsible alternative to conventional fuels.
About GAIL Gas
GAIL Gas Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of GAIL (India) Limited (a Maharatna PSU), was authorized by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to implement its City Gas Distribution Project in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts in 2015.
