City gas distribution project to be launched on November 22

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) Monday said it was planning to set up 273 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Coimbatore and 158 in Salem in the next eight years as part of the city gas distribution (CGD) project which would be launched on November 22.

With respect to piped natural gas (PNG), the IOCL which is a public sector undertaking said connections to over three lakh households in Salem and nine lakh in Coimbatore would be provided within the period.

IOCL had bagged tenders to implement the city gas distribution project in Salem and Coimbatore, while other companies bagged the tenders to implement the project in eight other districts - Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Ramanathapuram and Tiruppur.

Speaking to reporters here, executive director of Indian Oil (Tamil Nadu) R Sitharthan said the project costing an estimated Rs 2,100 crore would bring fuel price down by 40 percent.

"Petrol and diesel contribute Co2 to the environment while CNG is lighter and an environment-friendly alternative. Around 15,000 jobs will be created by the project," Sitharthan said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would lay the foundation stone for the project on November 22 at an event in New Delhi for 65 geographical areas in 129 districts across the country.