As a significant step towards expanding the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in India, Mr Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India laid the foundation stone of the CGD project in Alipurduar and Coochbehar districts of West Bengal on May 29, 2025.
The project, with a total cost of over Rs 10 billion, aims to provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to over 250,000 households, more than 100 commercial establishments and industries besides providing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to vehicular traffic by establishing a minimum of 19 CNG stations. The project is scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2030.
The tap-off point for taking Natural Gas is situated at Ambari and Ghoksadanga tap-off stations of M/s GAIL situated in the Coochbehar District, West Bengal.
The project’s key objective is to build a robust gas distribution infrastructure by laying steel pipelines, MDPE pipelines and other equipment for providing PNG connections to households, commercial establishments and industrial customers and CNG to vehicular traffic by establishing CNG stations.
Impact of the Project:
The project is expected to have a significant impact on the environment, employment, and the community. It aligns with India’s net-zero emission goals, promoting natural gas as a cleaner alternative to conventional fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 27 per cent. During the 25-year project period, there will be a reduction of approximately 98 TMT of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to planting around 5,000,000 trees.
The project is also expected to create over 2.2 million man-days of direct and indirect employment, thereby boosting local economic growth. Once fully operational, over 4.2 million population in these districts will enjoy a convenient, reliable, environment-friendly and cost-effective fuel supply.
The provision of a robust and efficient CGD infrastructure, sets the stage for creating a healthier environment and boosting sustainable development in the districts of Alipurduar and Coochbehar of West Bengal.