Kochi: Taking a leaf out of the success of natural gas as an alternative fuel in cities like Delhi, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is set to deploy the first CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)-run transport bus in Kochi, where four CNG refilling stations are expected to be opened by March second week. “We’ve held discussion with Indian Oil Corporation officials to see whether the CNG bus already with us can be deployed there. The process has started and we will soon seek the government’s approval. Initially we plan to purchase fuel from the IOC CNG dispensing station opposite to the Aluva regional workshop. Later, we will set up our own CNG refilling stations at the Aluva regional workshop and Thevara hub,” said a senior official.
Construction of four Compressed Natural Gas stations, being set up by the Indian Oil-Adani Gas Pvt Ltd (IOAGPL), is targeted to be opened by March 12. “We’ve completed the works and written to the state government seeking approval. We expect it to come in a week,” said Ajay Pillai, Deputy General Manager, Indian Oil Adani Gas.
The CNG refilling stations are coming up at the Kalamassery-FACT road, near KSRTC Garage at Muttom, along the national highway at Kalamassery and Kundanoor. Though KSRTC purchased a CNG bus costing Rs 25 lakh in March last, the bus is idling at the Central workshop at Thiruvananthapuram for nearly a year as CNG fuel was not available there. The plans to set up a CNG refilling outlet at the corporation’s Anayara depot could not be realised due to shortage of funds.
