The Hindu : CNG stations may go `cashless'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

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Other States - New Delhi

CNG stations may go `cashless'

By Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

NEW DELHI MARCH 5. Indraprastha Gas Limited is planning to introduce smart cards on the lines of credit cards for use by CNG consumers, which primarily comprise public transport vehicles. However, in the beginning the scheme would seek to target private bus owners.

The company these days is engaged in negotiations with a leading financial institution for launching credit cards at its filling stations on an experimental basis. "Besides, we are also looking at the possibility of launching cards on the lines of `petro-cards' for the convenience of the consumers,'' said the Managing Director of IGL, A.K. De.

The official said while initially, private buses would benefit from the scheme, later it would be gradually extended to three-wheeler scooter rickshaws and other vehicles. Noting that IGL which was earlier preoccupied with meeting the target of setting up 110 filling stations by June 2003 was now concentrating on other areas as well.

Though there is a restriction on use of CNG stations for convenio stores or other commercial activities like workshops, IGL is trying to make its consumers feel at ease at its premises. Pointing out that already air, water, toilet and telephone services are being provided at the filling stations, he said, lubricants are also gradually being introduced therein.

Mr. De said the number of accidents related to gas leakage have also registered a marked decline in the recent past due to mixing of the gas with an odourising agent. In Mercaptan, a liquid odourant imported all the way from France, IGL has found a handy help in overriding the problem of accidents. The mixing of the chemical in the gas supplies has been able to significantly cut down on mishaps.

Since the IGL was unable to identify which vehicles were safe and had proper kits installed on them, it decided to cut down on the accidents by making the compressed natural gas -- for which it is the sole supplier in Delhi -- more odourous.

As such a gas mixing or odourising machine was installed at the DESU Terminal at ITO from where the gas supply for the entire city passes. Here, Mercaptan is now regularly mixed into the main pipeline of natural gas.

A senior IGL official said while the city at present has 11.5 lakh kg of gas compression capacity per day, this entire quantity requires just about 7.5 kg of Mercaptan per day depending on the flow rate of the gas.

Mercaptan has been imported from France and at present Delhi has about 1,600 kg or about six months reserves in its stocks. The gas, whose injection into the system, was started in September last, is now being supplied to the city through 45 mother stations, 30 daughter booster station, 11 daughter stations and 19 online stations.

Mr De said odourising helps in quick detection of a gas leakage. "The process has been followed in Mumbai as well for providing a distinct smell to natural gas. The foul smell alerts people and spurs them into action.'' As to why some sweet- smelling odour was not used instead, he said, while a sweet smell only relaxes the body, a foul smell is quicker in eliciting a response.

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