Visakhapatnam City to get piped natural gas in 8 months

Visakhapatnam: Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) additional adviser Arvind Kumar said that citizens of Vizag can avail the piped natural gas connection in another eight months.

Speaking on the sidelines of 10th city gas distribution bidding road show, Arvind Kumar said the Board was working to resolve the dispute over awarding of 9th gas distribution bidding for Vizag, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts and ensure the city gas distribution for the area by another eight months. 

It may be recalled that the award for city gas distribution bidding had embroiled in litigation as one of bidders had challenged the selection procedure faulting some parameters set in the criteria.

He said “The natural gas is safe and cheaper so we have plans to go for LPG-free zone too. Presently the share of gas in the country’s energy mix is just over 6 per cent and the aim is to reach 15 per cent figure, while the world average is 24 per cent.”  

"Government of India has put thrust to promote the usage of environmental-friendly clean fuel, natural gas as a fuel/feedstock across the country to move towards a gas-based economy.

Accordingly, development of CGD networks has been focused to increase the availability of cleaner cooking fuel (PNG) and transportation fuel (CNG) to the citizens of the country. The expansion of CGD network will also benefit to industrial and commercial units by ensuring the uninterrupted supply of natural gas," he said.  

The laying of gas pipelines for the first phase of Kakinada-Srikakulam (216 km) work connecting Vizag and Kakinada has commenced, said Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Corporation CEO R Chadha. 

“All the pipes have reached at the pipe routes. The target is to complete the Visakhapatnam to Srikakulam (95 Km) pipeline stretch by April and we are hopeful of meeting the deadline.

And, the plan is to begin the operation by June while the second phase of the work connecting Vizag and Srikakulam could be completed by December this year,” Chadha asserted. Kakinada to Visakhapatnam were awarded to contractors in packages — Kakinada to Pulaparthi (90 km) and Pulaparthi to Visakhapatnam (90 km).  The route survey for the Vizag and Srikakulam pipeline was completed, he added.