Additional CNG stations remain non-starters in the city

Serpentine queues of CNG auto rickshaws and restless faces of drivers are a regular feature over the years in the city. CNG auto-rickshaws were introduced in the city from 2006 in an attempt to cut down on pollution levels.

There are close to 8,600 autos in the city out of which 5,800 depending on CNG while there are just four filling stations that too operated in alternate days by the Bhagaya Nagar Gas Limited (BGL) which are located in four corners of the city.

According to the BGL local unit officials, nearly 11,600 kg CNG is required per a day for the operation of 5,800 autos in the city, but the availability is only 2,800 kg per day, he said.

Though CNG is available at filling stations located at Ajithsingh Nagar, Bhavanipuram, Undavalli, and Ramavarappadu, the city requires additional bunks with more dispensers.

Majority of the CNG supply was being transferred to APSTRC buses operating in the city. Nearly 312 buses in the city are dependent on CNG for which 22,000 kg gas is required every day. The supply was coming down gradually for the past seven years due to various reasons, the officials said.

Ch Yedukondalu, an auto driver at Pamula Kaluva filling station said, “Following the guidelines of the State Government to reduce pollution levels I have purchased the CNG auto in 2008 to meet my livelihood. From then I was operating the auto services in the city.

The government which permitted CNG autos on roads has failed to establish the sufficient number of filling stations considering the demand for the supply of gas in the city.

I am spending more than six hours for refueling at stations. This is eats into my precious time, which in turn affects my business. Earlier District Civil Supply officials and people’s representatives had assured us for establishing additional filling stations the problem remains unsolved till date.

We are unable to make both ends meet, Government should look over the demand to protect the livelihood of the auto drivers, he said. Speaking to the Hans India on Wednesday, Joint Action Committee (JAC) of auto-rickshaw union’s convener Donepudi Shankar said that several agitations were taken by the auto unions over the years in the city to press the demand.

While shortage of filling stations in the city is one side of the problem, its scarcity is the other. As much as 58,000 standard cube meters gas is required for CNG autos in the city a day but the government is supplying only 52,500 standard cubic meters, he said.

Owing to this, majority of the drivers were forced to wait for hours in queues at filling stations. The long hours spent at the filling stations has reduced the number of trips the usually make, affecting their income badly.

The State Government should come to the rescue of drivers by ensuring adequate supply of CNG according to the demand in the city, which was part of the designated capital, said JAC convener Donepudi Shankar.