Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone of the CGD project in Alipurduar and Coochbehar districts of West Bengal.

The project, with a total cost of over Rs. 1000 crores, aims to provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to over 2.5 Lakh households, 100+ commercial establishments and industries besides providing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to vehicular traffic by establishing minimum 19 CNG stations. The project is scheduled to be completed by 30th September 2030.

The tap-off point for taking Natural Gas is situated at Ambari and Ghoksadanga tap-off stations of 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.

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%. 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 50 lakh trees.

The project is also expected to create over 22 lakh man-days of direct and indirect employment thereby boosting local economic growth. Once fully operational, over 42 lakh population in these districts will enjoy a convenient, reliable, environment-friendly and cost-effective fuel supply.

The provision of a robust and efficient City Gas Distribution infrastructure, sets the stage for creating a healthier environment and boosting sustainable development in the districts of Alipurduar and Coochbehar of West Bengal.