New Delhi: June 24: Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister for Forest and Environment Prakash Javadekar, launched first of its kind Pilot Programme in the country to run two wheelers on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) here yesterday. Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) and one of its parent company, GAIL (India) Limited implemented the pilot programme involving 50 CNG retrofitted two wheelers. Of these, the first batch of ten CNG retrofitted two wheelers were flagged off by the dignitaries at IGL’s CGO Complex CNG Station.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan said there are 55 lakh two wheelers in the national capital alone and this Pilot Programme will serve as small but vital step in the fight against pollution. He said the CNG-run two wheelers will not only emit 75 % lesser hydrocarbons as compared to petrol-driven models but would be more economical to run. Welcoming the initiative of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), Shri Pradhan said that the Government is pro-actively striving to promote clean fuel in the country. He said that the Government is promoting the use of gas in the country, thereby providing a better lifestyle to the people and also fulfilling the COP-21 commitments to curb pollution. Shri Pradhan said that the Gas share in the country’s fuel basket is just 7% compared to world average of around 24%. Describing the pilot programme to run two wheelers on CNG as historic, he said that after evaluating its experience, it will be expanded very fast.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Prakash Javadekar said that the Government is fully committed to control pollution in the country, and for this purpose, there will be a jump from Euro-IV type fuel to Euro-VI by 2020. He said that Environment Ministry will fully support the endeavours to promote clean fuel, including Gas. The Minister said that the launch of pilot phase of the project for CNG kit in two-wheelers will have a far-reaching implication in reducing pollution. The project is inspired by the ‘Hawa Badlo’ initiative which is a people’s initiative to fight air pollution backed by GAIL and city gas distribution companies. As part of the movement, a number of awareness drives have been carried out regarding the fight against air pollution. ‘Hawa Badlo’ also supports research initiatives in this regard, of which the CNG retrofitted two wheeler programme is a part. As per idle emission test, the hydrocarbon emissions from CNG retrofitted two wheelers are 75% lesser and CO emissions are 20% lesser as compared to petrol driven similar models.
The CNG kit for two wheelers comprises two CNG cylinders of 4.8 litre water capacity each, which can be filled with up to 1 kg of CNG in each cylinder. These CNG retrofitted two wheelers can drive upto 120 kms in a single fill and are expected to be substantially economical as compared to a similar petrol run vehicle at the current level of prices as per the kit manufacturer.
The performance of CNG retrofitted two wheelers would be closely monitored in terms of efficiency, emissions, etc. during the pilot phase by all the stakeholders and the learning from this project would be used to develop the road map for introduction of CNG in two wheeler segment across the nation. IGL has been augmenting its CNG refueling infrastructure to commensurate with increasing demand in its geographical areas of operation. A record number of 92 new CNG filling facilities have been set up by IGL in the region during first five months of the year between January and May 2016 thereby taking the number of CNG fuelling facilities of IGL to 414.
Others guests present in the launching ceremony were Meenakshi Lekhi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Dr. Bhure Lal, Chairman, EPCA, Shri B.C. Tripathi, CMD, GAIL (India) Ltd., Shri Ashutosh Jindal, Joint Secretary, Ministry Of Petroleum & Natural Gas and. Shri E.S. Ranganathan, Managing Director, Indraprastha Gas Limited.
