A significant milestone in Nagpur's energy infrastructure was achieved as the GAIL gas pipeline running alongside the Samruddhi Expressway became operational. From Sunday, natural gas will begin flowing directly to consumers in the region, marking the start of a major clean energy transition.
Inauguration and Immediate Supply Plans
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, will formally inaugurate the GAIL city gas station (CGS) and mother station on Sunday. The supply contract for the entire Nagpur district has been secured by Haryana City Gas Distribution (HCG) Limited. The company's immediate strategy is to initiate supply to industrial consumers in the Butibori area starting from the inauguration day.
Following the industrial supply, the focus will shift to residential consumers. Deepak Sawant, President of HCG (Nagpur), confirmed to the Times of India that piped natural gas (PNG) connections for domestic cooking will be provided to residents of the CIDCO Colony in Butibori. This phased approach ensures a systematic rollout of the new gas network.
Ambitious Expansion Across Nagpur District
HCG, which holds an eight-year contract for the district, has laid out an extensive expansion blueprint. By the next financial year, the PNG network is planned to extend from the initial CIDCO colony to several key areas including Jamtha, Wanadongri, Hingna, Kapsi, Wadi, and Ambazari.
This expansion is projected to cover approximately 1 lakh domestic connections, consuming an estimated 60,000 standard cubic meters (SCM) of gas. Sawant emphasized that the scale of promised PNG connections was a critical factor in winning the bid, with the network designed to serve not just Nagpur city but large swathes of the surrounding district.
Industrial and Automotive Gas Targets
The plans for industrial supply are equally ambitious. HCG has currently secured agreements for supplying 80,000 SCM to industries, with an aim to increase this to 1 lakh SCM by March. The long-term goal is to ramp up industrial supply to a substantial 7 lakh SCM.
For the automotive sector, the current supply for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stands at around 35,000 SCM. The company intends to progressively increase this capacity to 80,000 SCM to meet the growing demand for cleaner vehicular fuel. As the authorized distributor, HCG will be responsible for lifting gas from GAIL's pipeline at the sectionalizing valve and managing its delivery to end consumers.
A New Energy Era for the Region
The operationalization of the Mumbai-Nagpur pipeline represents a transformative development for Vidarbha. It promises enhanced energy security, a shift towards cleaner fuel for industries, households, and vehicles, and potential economic benefits from improved infrastructure. The systematic rollout by HCG indicates a structured approach to bringing piped gas to the doorsteps of Nagpur's residents and industries, aligning with the national push for a gas-based economy.
