Rajkot too gets gas network

Gujarat CM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 'City Gas Distribution System' for Rajkot city at the launch of Gujarat State Petronet Ltd's (a GSPC subsidiary) CNG station in Rajkot today. The CNG station is located on Rajkot-Porbandar bypass road.

The CNG stations are expected to help the state check pollution and help in faster rate of conversion of vehicles from conventional fuels to natural gas as fuel. The newly-launched gas distribution system will provide connections to homes.

Speaking recently at an event, Energy andPetro-chemichals minister Saurabh Patel said that the Gas Grid will reach Jamnagar by March 31 next year.

Rajkot areas like Alka Park Society and Prajapatinagar already have access to the system and many of the residents are availing of the services. Connections will soon be available to the rest of the city.

Gujarat State Petronet Ltd a subsidiary of the GSPC group, was set up to promote gas availability in the state by setting up a gas transportation infrastructure. The company intends to create an approximately 2,200 km network of high-pressure pipelines under its 'gas grid project'.

Availability of a cost-efficient and environment-friendly fuel such as natural gas will benefit industry in Saurashtra. The distribution system will also be implemented in several towns in a phased manner. Around 2 lakh households have already been connected.

Work is on in 12 towns including Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Sarigam, Hazira, Nadiad, Gandhinagar, Chandkheda/Motera, Khambhat, Surendranagar, Morbi and Rajkot.

The company claims to install 20 lakh connections across the state in the next five years. Around 90 CNG stations have been set up in the state by GGCL, Adani and GSPC. Of this, 12 stations were set up by GSPC alone last year. With five in Rajkot, over 60,000 vehicle owners are said to be benefitting.