One CNG filling station for over 6000 vehicles

Over 4000 CNG vehicles depend on Chittagong City Corporation CNG Refuelling Station. Immediate solution to the crisis is unlikely as the progress in setting up of more refuelling stations is very slow, sources said.

The station with a capacity of refuelling some 1000 vehicles with some 650 cubic meters of CNG daily now operates round-the-clock.

Hundreds of vehicles, particularly the four-stroke three wheelers, waiting in a four-kilometer queue have become a permanent scene at the refuelling station at Dampara in the city.

As the station refuels only four vehicles in every two minutes the vehicles wait in the long queue for at least five hours each narrowing down all the roads surrounding the station and hindering traffic movement as well.

Arrival of increasing number of such vehicles and conversion into CNG ones, are worsening the situation everyday.

Apart from other vehicles, the number of four-stroke three wheelers at present has exceeded 6000 in the port city. Of them, over 3000 were CNG while the rest were waiting conversion.

Moreover, several thousand more vehicles are also in the pipeline and their arrival will sure to aggravate the situation further, sources said.

"We are refuelling some 2200 vehicles with around 13,000 Cubic Meter of CNG everyday," CCC Executive Engineer Md. Abul Hasnat, in-charge of the station, said.

The station starts operating at 6.00 am and continue till all the waiting vehicles are refuelled at 3AM, he said.

To cope with the pressure CCC already started installing another two dispensers at the station, he added.

"The installation of the new dispensers at a cost of Tk 3 crore would be completed by next two months," he said.

Meanwhile, the land for installation of 17 refuelling stations was earmarked in the port city. Bangladesh railway has leased out lands to set up 13 stations.

But not a single station started operating for some unknown reasons.

It is alleged that non-cooperation from CCC, the authority responsible for giving trade license and holding number, and Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), responsible for approving the site, delayed the operation.

Mayor refuted the allegation outright and reiterated to extend his all out support and cooperation in setting up of refuelling station in private sector.

Sources in Bakharabad Gas System Ltd (BGSL) said they were ready to provide natural gas to the refuelling stations on a priority basis.

Deputy General Manager (Marketing) Md. Hasan said CNG refuelling station was getting priority at everywhere. It was being provided with lands in suitable place and Non-Objection Certificates (NOC).

"We are also encouraging the intended entrepreneurs providing them with necessary information," he said.

However, three more CNG refuelling stations are likely to go into operation within a next few months, sources said.

BGSL sources said they have recently given gas connection to one CNG refuelling station, Sea Cold, near City Gate area under Pahartoli thana. The station was expected to start operation soon, they said.

Besides, installations of two other refuelling stations, one in front of GPO and another at port connecting road at Halishahar, are nearing completion, sources said.