Prime Minister Modi lay the foundation of gas distribution projects
On November 22, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundations of City Gas Distribution (CAG) projects in 65 geographical areas (GAS) in 129 districts under the 9th CGD bidding period, Remote Building, Remotely from New Delhi.
The Prime Minister also launched the 10th CGD Bidding period in 50 GAs spread across 124 districts in 14 states.
What is the aim of the project?
The share of gas in India’s energy mix is more than just 6 percent and its objective is to reach 15 percent of the population, while the world average is 24 percent.
India’s goal is to reduce the carbon emission level and in this direction, several initiatives have been taken to provide LED pipes, BS VI fuel, Bio-energy, International Solar Coalition, Prime Minister Ujjawala Yojna, and more clean pipe gas supply in Cities.
India will also increase LNG terminal capacity, re-establish India-Qatar gas deal and encourage positive Indo-US engagement in this direction.
India is not only focusing on increasing the use of gas and supply, but also in the production of gas through agricultural waste and other products and also in the CGD network.
India has focused its efforts on promoting environment-friendly fuels, natural gas to move towards a gas-based economy across the country in the form of fuel and food items.
The development of CGD networks has been focused on increasing the availability of fuel for cooking like PNG and transport fuel (CNG) to all citizens of the country.
What is the benefit of this project?
Expansion of CGD network will benefit industrial and commercial units by ensuring uninterrupted supply of natural gas.
This step will expand the potential coverage of CGD of about 50 percent of the country’s population, which will spread more than 35 percent of the area.
Through the existing CGD network, about 46.5 lakh families and 32 lakh CNG vehicles are currently taking advantage of clean fuel.
What is the process to implement CGD networks?
By September 2018, about 96 cities and districts were covered in various parts of the country for the development of CGD network.
According to the commitments made by various organizations during the 9th bidding period, in the next 8 years, about 2 million PNG (domestic) connections and 4600 CNG stations are expected to be established across the country.
Various pre-project activities have already started for these GAs and efforts are being made to start physical work on the site.