Tripura becomes first eastern state to get CNG refilling station

Tripura has become the first eastern state of the country to have a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refilling station.Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the station yesterday, which has been set up by Tripura Natural Gas Company Ltd (TNGCL), a division of the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL).

By Pinaki Das

Agartala, June 21 : Tripura has become the first eastern state of the country to have a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refilling station.Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar inaugurated the station yesterday, which has been set up by Tripura Natural Gas Company Ltd (TNGCL), a division of the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL).

The Chief Minister said that the new system will not only help the state in earning revenue, but would also help the CNG-run vehicles owners and drivers to earn more.According to an estimate, in the first phase around 20,000 vehicles mainly auto-rickshaws, small and medium vehicles, and mini buses would get CNG kit, which is cheaper and at the same time environment friendly, Chairman and Managing Director, GAIL, U.D. Choubey said. At present the state has around 40 auto-rickshaws and seven small vehicles running on CNG.CNG is boon for us, as we would get double average with this cheaper fuel, said Rafikul Mian an auto-rickshaw driver.

TNGCL, which has been supplying piped natural gas to around 6,410 domestic consumers in and around Agartala, besides 100 commercial establishments and industrial units, shall very soon double its domestic connectivity at reasonable price, said TNGCL Managing Director, H C Hatwal.

Agartala will be the fourth city in the country after New Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow to run CNG vehicles on a large scale.

ANI