PM Modi to launch city gas projects, to cover half of India’s population

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone in New Delhi today for City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects across 129 districts which won under the ninth CGD bidding round held recently, the Petroleum Ministry said. At each of the Geographical Areas (GA) across 19 states in India, the authorised entities would also hold their event locally, a Ministry release said.

It said the projects, recently awarded by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), would cover 65 GAs to bring gas to around half of the country’s population in 26 states and Union Territories. “During the event, the Prime Minister would also launch the tenth CGD bidding round in 50 GAs spread over 124 districts in 14 states,” the statement said.

As part of a larger plan to shift towards an environment friendlier gas-based economy, the development of CGD networks will increase the availability of clean cooking fuel or Piped Natural Gas (PNG) and transportation fuel Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for consumers, it said. The project has covered 96 cities and districts covering 46.5 lakh households and 32 lakh CNG vehicles so far. PNGRB launched the ninth CGD bidding round in April for 86 GAs covering 174 districts in 22 states and Union Territories. The government has authorised bidders to develop projects in 84 of these GAs.