The article discusses the delay in connecting the Adani Total Gas Limited (ATGL) City Gas Station (CGS) in Panambur, Mangaluru, with the Kochi-Koottanad-Bengaluru-Mangaluru natural gas trunk pipeline of GAIL. The delay is due to a long-pending permission issue with Kudremukh Iron Ore Company, according to a reply given in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi. The Minister stated that the establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations is part of the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, which is carried out by authorized entities as per their Minimum Work Programme (MWP).
The Udupi District Geographical Area has been authorized to ATGL for the development of CGD network, with a target to establish 11 CNG stations by 2030. As of November 30, 2024, ATGL had established 10 CNG stations in the Udupi district GA. However, due to the delay, ATGL is currently catering to the demand through cascades from neighboring areas and has increased its cascade capacity. The Minister assured that the issue will be resolved soon, and the CGS in Panambur will be connected to the pipeline once the permission issue is resolved with Kudremukh Iron Ore Company.
The article also mentions that the shortage of CNG in Udupi district has resulted in autorickshaw drivers waiting in long queues in front of CNG pump stations. The Member of Parliament, Kota Srinivas Poojary, questioned the government on the steps taken to resolve the issue, and the Minister’s response highlighted the challenges faced by ATGL in connecting the CGS in Panambur with the pipeline. Overall, the article discusses the challenges and delays faced by ATGL in establishing a CGS in Panambur, which is essential for the development of the CGD network and meeting the demand for CNG in the Udupi district.