Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for automobiles in the national capital region will cost Rs 1.5 per kg less during odd-hours - midnight to 5 am - with effect from midnight tonight.
The move to sell CNG at discount is aimed at reducing long queues at refueling stations, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today.
This is the first time that a differential pricing for peak and off peak hours is being applied for CNG.
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"From tomorrow, Indraprastha Gas Ltd will have a reduced price during odd hours," he said.
CNG for automobiles in Delhi costs Rs 37.20 per kg. The price of CNG in adjoining towns of Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad is Rs 42.60 per kg.
The sole retailer of CNG to automobiles and piped cooking gas to households in NCR will sell the fuel to automobiles at discounted rates between 0000 hrs or midnight to 0500 hrs, IGL company managing director Narendra Kumar said.
"The odd-hour discount will be Rs 1.50 per kg," he said.
Pradhan said the total CNG dispensation capacity in NCR is 68 lakh kg per day against a demand of 22 lakh kg. "Yet there are queues. So I asked IGL to prepare a new marketing plan to decongest. The new plan will be implemented from tomorrow."
IGL has 181 operational CNG stations in the national capital region catering to 8 lakh vehicles.
The company had last revised CNG prices with effect from October 2 when rates were cut by 80 paisa per kg following an 18 per cent reduction in natural gas prices. Piped cooking gas (PNG) on that day was reduced by 70 paise per unit.
The consumer price of PNG to the households in Delhi is Rs 24.65 per standard cubic meters.
Due to differential tax structure in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the applicable price of domestic PNG to households in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad is Rs 26.15 per scm.
(REOPENS DEL 42)
IGL in a statement said to incentivizing CNG refuelling
during non-peak hours, it will give a discount of Rs 1.50 per kg in the selling prices of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for filling between 12 am to 5 am at select 230 outlets in NCT of Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad from Friday night.
"Remaining 30 outlets will be having similar facility very soon," it said. "Thus, the consumer price of CNG would be Rs 35.70 per kg in Delhi and Rs 41.10 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida & Ghaziabad during 12 am to 5 am at 230 CNG stations across the region."
The CNG price during 5 am to 12 am at these select stations, as well as few stations where this discount is not been offered, remains unchanged at Rs 37.20 per kg in Delhi and Rs 42.60 per kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. The price of CNG in Delhi remains lowest in the country.
"This first of its kind initiative by IGL is aimed at providing comfortable fuelling experience to its customers and also ensuring effective utilisation of its CNG refuelling infrastructure during off peak hours," it said.
"Due to increased environmental awareness and exemption of CNG run cars from odd-even rule in Delhi, the demand for CNG in the region is expected to grow with more vehicles, especially the private cars, expected to run on CNG."
IGL said in order to promote conversion of private cars to CNG, a CNG kit retrofitment scheme is being been rolled out through ICICI Bank, which would be offering payment for CNG kit retrofitment to potential customers through easy instalments.
As a New Year bonanza for the households in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, aimed at incentivising PNG registrations, a special scheme is being started wherein potential PNG customers can register for a PNG connection by paying a total security deposit of Rs 6,000 in four easy bimonthly instalments of Rs 1,500 each. This scheme would be valid from January 1 to March 31.
Over 6 lakh kitchens in the region are already connected with PNG which is 25 per cent cheaper when compared to non-subsidised domestic LPG cylinders.
