CNG filling stations in city struggle to meet demand
POSSIBLE SOLUTION IOC officials request district administration to take over running of the units sealed after raids, to manage customer load
The closure of two CNG filling stations in the TransGomti area has led to rush in other CNG stations in Gomti Nagar. The closed CNG filling station were found using tampering devices in raids conducted by the administration.
Such is the rush that the queue at the Vibhuti Khand filling station went on till Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. Three-wheelers, tempos, and schools buses waited for anywhere from 3 to 5 hours to get fuel.
In fact, CNG stations in far away localities such as Ashiana, Budheshwar and Amausi too are feeling the heat of the increased customer pressure.
Part of this load is also due to the reopening of schools after the summer break and the increase in the number of school buses running on the roads.
Looking for a solution to this problem, officials of the Indian Oil Corporation (parent company of Green gas Limited -- GGL) have sought permission from the district administration to take over the running of the sealed units from the fuel station owners and dispense CNG to customers.
Officials said they were hopeful of receiving the permission soon.
At present, the city has a daily supply of 8,200 kg of CNG, which is growing by 10% every year. Besides, the centre has granted an additional 10% quota to Lucknow to meet the growing CNG demand.
An official of GGL on the condition of anonymity said, “Lucknow requires at least 8 more CNG stations to manage the present load of over 20,000 CNG vehicles. However, CNG supply here is limited to a few pumps in Ashiana, Nadarganj, Vibhuti Khand and Chinhat. All these pumps see huge crowds of CNG vehicles, and two have been closed. The need of the hour is to improve the distribution system.”
At present, there are over 18,144 registered CNG vehicles in the city, and an estimated 2,200 unregistered vehicles. While the number of CNG vehicles has doubled in the last two years, the infrastructure has remained the same.