GSRTC launches first biodiesel bus service

The country's first biodiesel run bus was flagged off in Gandhinagar by Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Manishankar Iyer in Gandhinagar on Saturday.

Four biodiesel run buses were introduced by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC), to ply between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. It will source biodiesel from Ankleshwar-based Gujarat Oleo-Chem Ltd (GOCL).

Talking about the viability of such a project, Iyer said, "We need to control the prices of biodiesel to make it commercially viable. This can be done only if the Jatropha (which is used to derive biodiesel) is planted on a large scale to reduce the cost of production."

The cost o0f biodiesel is higher than that of diesel at present. This is mainly because biodiesel is produced on a small scale.

Biodiesel as an alternate source of fuel is important as Ahmedabad has among the highest levels of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) in the residential areas. The use of biodiesel will be an environment-friendly move and is expected to bring down pollution levels.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who was also present at the function, said there were several locations ideal for growing Jatropha in the state.

"Gujarat has a coastline of over 1,600 kilometres, where Jatropha can be planted. Kutch is also ideal for Jatropha plantation. The first commercial production of biodiesel as an alternative fuel derived from Jatropha seeds has already started in Gujarat. This green oil will bring green revolution in the country," he claimed.

In an interim order, the Supreme Court observed that RSPM levels in nine cities of the country were alarmingly high.

Consequently, the state government constituted a task force in 2002 under the chairmanship of the chief secretary of Gujarat to control air pollution in urban areas.

"This is the first time that biodiesel is being used in buses. We plan to introduce this service in the entire country," said Santosh Pathak, chairman, Gujarat Oleo-Chem Ltd.

Earlier, the company shipped its first commercial consignment of biodiesel derived from Jatropha seeds to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), which was used for test trials for the railways.

"People who are into research feel satisfied when their research is put to commercial use and its heartening to know that GSRTC busses will be run on biodiesel," said B M Bansal, director, research and development, IOCL.

The state transport corporation has about 9,000 buses, which cover 97.5 per cent of the area in the state and ferries over 27 lakh daily. The corporation employees over 56,000 people and generates a turnover exceeding Rs 11,000 crore on an annual basis.

CM seeks early clearance for Gujarat Gas Act.

Meanwhile, Modi urged the Union peteroleum ministry to lay the guidelines for the enactment the Gujarat Gas Act. He also sought speedy implementation of the Gujarat CNG Act.

"Gujarat is the first state in the country to come out with its own Compressed Natural Gas Act. We are awaiting the Centre's nod for its implementation. We are also seking legislative powers to enact a legislation on gas," Modi said.

In January, the state Cabinet had cleared the Gujarat Motor Vehicles (Use of Fuel) Regulation Bill, 2003.