CNG shortage grips Agra

Almost two weeks after a compressor pump at its mother station failed leading to an acute shortage of compressed natural gas in the city, Green Gas Ltd is still struggling to maintain the supply.

The company, a joint venture between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Gas Authority of India Ltd, was formed to provide automobile CNG in Agra and other towns of Uttar Pradesh.

According to company sources, the compressor failed on March 3 shutting down gas supply to the two daughter booster stations of Green Gas in the city. At present, the sole mother station on the Agra-Delhi highway is catering to the demand of the entire city, resulting in a waiting period of almost 6-8 hours for a refill.

As per the latest figures provided by the local transportation office, the number of 'active' autorickshaws in Agra is over 6,000. The CNG crisis has forced this huge fleet of autos to operate on petrol, leading to a two-fold increase in transportation tariff in the past week.

Company officials said as some parts used in the compressor had to be imported, the repair would take time.