Bhubaneswar: Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday launched CNG-run scooters.
Bhubaneswar becomes the fourth city after Delhi, Mumbai and Pune to have CNG-run two and three-wheelers on its roads. Launching the project, Pradhan said: "This fuel is eco-friendly and cost effective. An auto-rickshaw owner can now save anywhere between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 a month on fuel. The ministry plans to set up nearly 50 CNG stations in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar."
Pradhan also inaugurated two CNG stations at Chandrasekharpur and Patia, while another two are under construction at Khandagiri and Tamando. Stating that he was happy to launch the project here, Pradhan said: "I am happy to be inaugurating the CNG stations in my home state. This is also the first time that CNG stations are being inaugurated in eastern India. CNG will become a smart fuel for a smart city like Bhubaneswar at a time when many cities in India suffer from pollution."
CNG is more environment friendly compared to conventional fuels because it has no impurities such as sulphur or lead. It is lighter than air and rises up in case of leakage.
Initially, natural gas will reach Bhubaneswar in special containers, cascades, which will be transported by road from Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh. Later, natural gas will be supplied through the 2,655km Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline.
Pradhan said Rs 5,000 crore would be invested for the pipeline project, from which Rs 2,000 crore would be for the development of human resources. In the first phase, Rs 1,700 crore would be invested for Compressed Gas Distribution in Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. The construction and maintenances of these pipelines will create employment for local youths and help boost Odisha's economy.
The BJD , however, boycotted the event. Though Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patasani and its Bhubaneswar (north) MLA Priyadarshi Mishra were invited, they did not turn up. Even industries minister Niranjan Pujari refused to attend.
Though the BJD did not cite reasons for the boycott, BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty said the BJD was against development.
