45 new CNG stations ready to operate, awaiting approvals in Delhi

The company had planned to open 61 new CNG filling stations, keeping in mind the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. Out of these, 16 have been made operational and the rest are awaiting various approvals.

"45 newly built CNG filling stations are ready, but they can't be made operational as we are yet to get licenses and approvals from various authorities," Indraprastha Gas Managing Director Rajesh Vedvyas informed.

Vedvyas said that preparations for the Commonwealth Games are ahead of schedule and barring 45 stations which are waiting for licenses, 196 of its CNG stations are operational. "We have no doubt to get approvals, as authorities themselves are concerned about preparations (for the Commonwealth Games). Our only worry is the delay and that is adding to the inconvenience of the people," he said.

With the opening of these 45 new CNG stations, the total number of fuel points will increase to 241 in the National Capital Region. The company wants to scale up the number of CNG stations it owns to 280 by March, 2011.

The company estimates that about 3.5 lakh vehicles are running on CNG in the National Capital Region at present, with the number growing at the rate of 70 thousand to one lakh vehicles every year.

The natural gas requirement in the National Capital Region, including CNG and domestic gas, will touch the 7 million standard cubic metres per day mark from the existing requirement of 2.5 MSCMD within the next five years, Vedvyas said.