KOLKATA: West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) and Bengal Gas Co Ltd (BGCL) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that paves the way to its introduction of compressed natural gas(CNG) as the gas to run its gas bus fleet.
“CNG provides us immunity against the gas prices and check pollution considerably,” said transportation minister Firhad Hakim.
The arrangement had been signed between Bengal Gas CEO Satyabrata Bairagi along with WBTC managing manager Rajanvir Singh Kapur at the presence of transportation secretary Rajesh Sinha.
WBTC will convert the buses from diesel to CNG at a phased way.
“Aside from constructing CNG channels at WBTC’s bus depots, we’re exercising on a bonus scheme to attract private bus operators to conduct their own fleet over CNG.
There may be an annual tax vacation for conducting electrical and CNG buses,” Hakim added.
Acknowledging the requirement for fare increase by private bus operators in the aftermath of the abrupt increase in gas costs was warranted, the minister stated that the government was constrained to provide the nod because commuters were both hard pushed.
The change to a less expensive gas alternative, he concluded, was a workable option.
The CNG channels for WBTC buses are going to be set up in just six months.
“We’re researching the technologies, where we could conduct our gas trucks on CNG.
To get a vehicle, the conversion of petrol to CNG prices Rs 30,000 however for buses, it’s somewhat expensive.
We’ve requested Kapur to get the suitable technology for the conversion,” stated the transportation minister.
Such conversion was completed in Delhi over years past.
Subsequently, it’s bought CNG buses in the producers.
BGCL, a joint venture firm of GAIL & Greater Calcutta Gas Supply Corporation Ltd (CGSCL), has been approved by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) for its distribution of CNG throughout pipeline at Kolkata metropolitan region.
BGCL and WBTC on Monday entered into a final agreement, in which BGCL will soon be putting up CNG facilities inside the assumptions of WBTC and provide CNG into buses.
At the first stage, BGCL will install eight channels at bus depots in Howrah, Salt lake, Thakurpukur, Nilgunj, Belghoria, Santragachi, Karunamoyee and Kasba.
BGCL will soon be spending Rs 3.5 crore to construct up CNG infrastructure at every depot.
Approximately 15 buses could be refuelled within one hour or two bus tops from the CNG channels at bus depots.
Hakim said,”We’re focusing on electrical buses and CNG so the city could become cleaner and shinier.” It’s due to the land problems with the placing of the last period of this pipeline out of North 24 Parganas into Kolkata which BGCL will provide CNG at tankers.
But in next six weeks, the pipeline placing will soon be finish.