Kerala: L-CNG to fuel 3 cities

Kochi: The government would take steps to ensure that the public transport system in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode would start using to CNG as fuel in one year, transport commissioner Tomin J. Thachankary has said. Mr Thachankary who attended a presentation on the use of liquefied compressed natural gas (L-CNG) by officials of GAIL (India) Ltd in Kochi on Friday told this newspaper that the first target would be to effect the changeover for KSRTC and city buses, taxis and autorickshaws.

While IOC Adani Gas Private Ltd, the agency implementing the city gas project in Kochi, will distribute gas to L-CNG stations, GAIL will ensure its supply in the other two cities. L-CNG will be transported to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in tankers and will be distributed through dedicated fuel stations, Mr Tony Mathew, chief manager and coordinator for the Kochi-Koottanad-Bengaluru Mangalore Pipeline project, GAIL, said.

“Each station will require an investment of Rs 6-8 crore,” he said. He pointed out that L-CNG stations are most suited for locations where trunk gas pipeline network is not available. L-CNG is also an eco-friendly fuel which reduces carbon emission compared with other fossil fuels. At present Kerala has no sale of CNG and hence there is no tax on it.

“This would be advantageous for the consumers,” Mr Mathew said. “L-CNG offers 30-40 per cent more mileage compared with other fuels. It can be sold between Rs 39 and Rs 47 per kg in Kerala against Rs 59 per litre for diesel and Rs 69 per litre for petrol.”

At present, GAIL is working on a similar project in Bhopal, he said.   If it materialises, Kerala will be the first state in India to host L-CNG stations in India, Mr Mathew said. The transport commissioner suggested that at least six stations must be set up in each city to start with, he said.