Hyderabad to get more CNG stations

BGL gears up to launch 20 new filling stations within Greater Hyderabad region by March-end

Hyderabad: Giving a push for adoption of eco-friendly vehicles and cater the needs of motorists who wish to opt the cleaner fuel, Bhagyanagar Gas Limited (BGL) is all set to come up with more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations in the city.

Buoyed by the success of existing stations, BGL is geared up to launch 20 new CNG stations within Greater Hyderabad region by March-end. The new filling stations in which BGL will be distributing CNG will be located at Bachupally, Financial District, Batasingaram, Gachibowli, Serilingampally, Yousufguda and Moosapet among others.

A joint venture of Gas Authority of India Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, BGL has a total of 80 such stations which are operated by HPCL, IOCL and BPCL and the new ones make the total number of stations to 100. According to officials, initially these oil and gas companies provide land and BGL would set up required infrastructure and distributes the gas. Today, BGL is in a stage of distributing around 1 lakh kg of CNG in the city every day.

Rajeev Garg, Managing Director, BGL said that amid soaring fuel prices, there has been demand for eco-friendly vehicles in Hyderabad and accordingly, more CNG filling stations were being launched in the city. “Since fuel prices are becoming high for running a four-wheeler and four-wheeler, CNG would be a great help in reducing operating costs up to 40 per cent as compared to petrol and diesel engines,” he said.

Officials said that each station supply around 1,000 kg to 1,500 kg of CNG daily. At present, over 50,000 vehicles which run with CNG are plying on the city roads and use the gas from BGL stations. Apart from cars, auto-rickshaws and other commercial vehicles, TSRTC too is operating 130 CNG buses in the city.

The cost of CNG per kg is Rs 64, which is Rs 30 cheaper than petrol and Rs 24 less than diesel. These days, auto manufacturers are making bi-fuel vehicles on the request of owners and can be driven on petrol/ diesel as well as CNG.