Kochi: The wait to get a household connection under the City Gas Distribution project will be longer for many residents in the district. The implementing agency, Indian Oil Adani Gas, has revised its target for South India’s first such project following the delay in implementation. The company finally got the approval of the Kalamassery Municipality for pipe-laying works recently, and it now aims to give 44, 000 domestic connections only by 2021, two years after the earlier deadline. “As per the revised target, we will give domestic connections to 6105 households by October 2017. The target of 44, 000 domestic connections will take five years,” said a senior company official.
During the project inauguration in February earlier this year, company executives had promised to provide 44,000 domestic connections in the district in three years. Till now, only 72 households have been given connections besides the commercial connection given to the Ernakulam Medical College. “Now we hope to hasten the works after receiving permission from the PWD (Public Works Department) and the NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) to dig up roads for pipe-laying activities,” the official said. Meanwhile, the company would write to the Navy authorities seeking permission to lay pipelines by digging up the Kalamassery Naval Armament Depot (NAD) Road.
“The Navy had raised objections earlier. However, we have received many applications from industries and households there. We’ll do our best to clear all security concerns,” they said. Kalamassery Municipal chairperson Jessy Peter said the project would be implemented on a war-footing in its 22 wards in three phases– five wards in each phase. “The work was stalled due to disagreement over terms regarding repair of roads dug up for pipe laying. The Adani group has agreed to increase the amount for such works. Priority will be given to those wards where funds have been allotted for road repairs,” she said.
