Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through video conferencing, laid the foundation for the city gas distribution project and Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan took part in the event in Coimbatore.
In Coimbatore and Salem, Indian Oil Corporation has won the bid for 18 geographical areas of which it will individually carry out the project in seven areas and as joint venture in the remaining areas.
The current share of natural gas in India’s energy basket was 6.2 % approximately against the 23.4 % global share. Mr. Radhakrishnan said that reducing pollution and carbon emission by embracing natural gas could turn the country greener and safer.
Indian Oil executive director Senthilkumar said that in the next eight years, nine lakh households and 273 petroleum outlets would be in a position to supply natural gas through pipelines with the implementation of this project at ₹ 1,500 crore.
Coir Board chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, Coimbatore MP Nagarajan, BJP State general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan, Collector T.N. Hariharan and MLA Kasthuri Vasu took part in the event.
