MTC starts groundwork for rolling out CNG buses
Chennai   26-Aug-2010

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) seems to have taken a determined step forward to convert all its diesel-operated buses into compressed natural gas (CNG)-run vehicles to reduce their emission-levels and operational cost. However, it may take a couple of years before the availability of fuel and ground infrastructure let MTC roll out the new buses.

According to official sources, MTC recently held discussions with IndianOil (IOC) to procure CNG and to set up adequate infrastructure at its depots for supply of gas. However, IOC officials told the transport corporation that the oil company would need three years to produce enough CNG.

"We are keen on shifting to CNG to bring down emission levels of our buses. It would also reduce our fuel expenditure. We had elaborate discussions with IOC, but they said they were not in a position to supply CNG now,'' a senior transport official told The Times of India.

IOC offcials said they were working to set up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import and re-gasification terminal at Ennore, which is likely to go on steam 2014-2015. "We signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation early this month to set up a Rs 3,000-crore facility,'' an IOC official said.

Both CNG and LNG are stored forms of natural gas. While CNG is stored in gaseous form at high pressure, LNG is stored in uncompressed liquid form. MTC consumes about 2.5 lakh litre of diesel to operate its 3,500 buses which make more than 40,000 trips covering about 8,00,000 km every day.

Oil field experts prescribe use of CNG for public transport to protecti environment, particularly in view of the increasing vehicle population and traffic density. "Delhi government was able to control pollution there by converting diesel-operated buses into CNG-run vehicles. Though the capital expenditure to set up the infrastructure for CNG will be high, it would give 1.5 times more mileage than diesel. It will also increase the operational efficiency of the vehicle,'' said V Sivakumar, Petroleum Conservation Research Association's chief coordinator for southern region.