Notwithstanding the protests in parts of Tamil Nadu over gas pipelines and oil drilling, the Union government aims to make urban transportation in Chennai and Coimbatore cleaner and greener,
by putting up a gas grid,
by 2020.
If the plans drawn by the government fructifies, public transportation vehicles in these two mega cities in the state besides 11 other districts would be fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG) like in Delhi and Mumbai, instead of the dirtier diesel. Diesel sales will however continue uninterrupted.
The key however, is the support from the state government, which is so far been lackadaisical to pipeline projects.
“We have had interactions with senior government officials, more specifically with S Krishnan, (housing and urban development secretary) who has promised all support,” said Satpal Garg, member, Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board. The government has also written to the chief secretary seeking support for the City Gas pipeline project.
“Every big city in India is on the gas grid. It is time for TN to come on the gas map as it is both cheaper and greener,” he said.
Ennore is on the global energy map where a massive gas (LNG) terminal (taking in an investment of Rs 5,200 crore) is being put up by Indian Oil. “Gas will be available from September,” he said. “It is in the interest of the State that it supports the project.”
The Centre’s plan is to cling the proposed City Gas pipelines to one of the two trunk pipelines -- Kochi—Kuttanad—Mangaluru and Chennai Ennore to Tuticorin--that go through the state. While the Kochi line, by GAIL, which passes through Western Tamil Nadu was stuck due to farmer protest, the Ennore-Tuticorin line has not progressed beyond Ennore.
Bidding for the creation of gas grid is underway. Seven geo locations in 11 districts including—Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Coimbatore, Salem, would be covered, it will benefit 72 lakh households and 2.8 crore people in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Within the union territory of Puducherry, three districts, viz., Puducherry, Mahe and Karaikal is open for bidding.
The bids, which closes in July, will see contracts being awarded in October. “Ideally, in states like Telengana, the permission to the winning bidder is handed over in 30 days. The gas supplies should start in 2020,” Garg said.
Each geographical area will require an investment of Rs 300 crore to Rs 500 crore over an eight-year period.