Number Of CNG Stations To Be Ramped Up To 8,000 In Next Two Years: Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday (15 July) announced that the number of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in the country will be ramped up to 8,000 in the next two years.

Puri on Friday inaugurated 166 CNG stations that have been set up by GAIL (India) Limited and nine of its group City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies in 41 Geographical Areas (GAs) across 14 states.

The minister congratulated GAIL and all the participating CGD entities for the expansion of CNG station network.

Puri said that these CNG stations commissioned at the cost of Rs 400 crore will further strengthen the gas-based infrastructure and availability of cleaner fuel in the country.

He further stated that as compared to 2014 when there were about 900 CNG stations, currently the number of CNG stations have crossed 4500, and will be ramped up to 8000 in the next two years, according to a Petroleum Ministry release.

The number of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections have also now crossed 95 lakhs as compared to about 24 lakhs in the year 2014, the release added.

Puri emphasised that rollout of CNG on such a scale is expected to incentivise market for CNG vehicles and will have exponential impact in terms of manufacturing, skill development and employment generation.

According to the Petroleum Ministry, after the completion of ongoing CGD development in GAs awarded under the 11th and 11th A CGD bidding round of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, 98 per cent of India’s population and 88 per cent of its geographical area will have access to natural gas.