Kochi: The City Gas Distribution (CGD) project to bring piped natural gas (PNG) to homes and hotels in Kochi is finally going to happen soon. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has granted the final approval for the CGD project.
While announcing this at a press meet, Chief Secretary E K Bharat Bhushan said on Saturday that the tender process in this connection would be completed by January-February 2014.
He said that since most apartments in the city already had gas pipeline systems linked to individual flats, a minimum of 20,000 connections could be given within just six months of closing the tender process. He said that the project would be implemented in a phased manner.
Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) general manager K P Ramesh, who was present at the press meet, said that the cost of gas would be at least Rs 50 less than the present cost of both subsidized and non-subsidised gas.
Bharath Bhushan said the the central part of the city would be covered in the first phase. Already, BPCL had shown keenness in taking up the gas distribution, he added.
It may be recalled that GAIL had laid a 44 km-long pipeline in the city to connect the Petronet LNG terminal at Puthuvype with major industrial units like FACT, BPCL and Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd. This line will form the trunk line for the City Gas Distribution network.
GAIL officials allayed apprehensions over the safety aspect of the gas network.
“There is a general feeling among people that gas pipes will burst like water pipes. But, since natural gas is lighter than air, it will evaporate when it comes in contact with natural air,” said S P Garg, GM (Health and Safety and Environment), GAIL.
He said that even after laying 10,000 km of gas pipeline in the country, there had been no issues on safety as the system was built on international standards.
