PM dedicates Varanasi CGD project to nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated to the Nation the Varanasi City Gas Distribution (CGD) network which will supply environment friendly natural gas to households, transport sector and industries in the city through the ‘Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga’. The project was dedicated in a function in Varanasi in the presence of Governor of Uttar Pradesh Ram Naik, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and a host of other dignitaries.
The foundation stone of the Varanasi CGD project had been laid by the Prime Minister on October 24, 2016.
The Varanasi CGD network, which is being implemented by GAIL (India) Limited at a cost of Rs 755 crore, will cover 1,535 sqkm and cater to a population of 36.76 lakh. Two Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations have started commercial operations while another 18 will be set up in the coming years. Overall, 20,000 vehicles are expected to use CNG in the city.
Besides, Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connection work for 8,000 houses has been completed which are expected to be connected by March 2019. About 1 lakh households are likely to be covered in the project.
Steel pipeline has already been laid for 28 km and medium density polyethylene (MDPE) pipe laying for 102 km completed. About 800 km of steel and MDPE pipelines will be laid in the city as part of the project.