Trivandrum city will switch to compressed natural gas (CNG) for fuelling the vehicles in six months. Transport commissioner Tomin J Thachankary said that the public sector oil companies have agreed to launch five CNG filling stations in the city corporation limits. Kochi and Kozhikode will also get five CNG stations each.The state doesn’t have CNG filling stations, which has affected the efforts to curb air pollution caused by diesel engines.
The motor vehicle department has proposed the government that once the CNG filling facility is operational, the city buses and taxies, including autorickshaws, should be asked to switch to CNG, which is highly economical and environment friendly. KSRTC’s city services will also be asked to migrate to the system. Thachankary also said that since the state has not imposed any tax on CNG, the companies will be able to supply CNG at Rs 39/kg that will also provide 150% fuel efficiency.
At the same time, the concern remains whether the vehicles, especially smaller vehicles like autorickshaws, will be able to afford the cost of changing to CNG engines from the existing engines.”The cost for switching to CNG engines varies from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for small to heavy vehicles.
News : The Hindu
