Union Minister for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan and Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot inaugurated the nation’s first commercial Hydrogen CNG Plant at Raj Ghat bus depot on October 20. During the ceremony, it was announced that 50 HCNG-powered buses will ply on Delhi roads soon.
A pilot project is being taken up wherein 50 HCNG buses will ply on the roads of the capital and factors like emissions, fuel economy, how much environment-friendly, etc. will be monitored for six months. However, as per the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the estimated increase in the cost of operations shifted to HCNG will be 72 paise per kilometre. The technology has been developed and patented by IOCL.
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The Union Minister, while addressing the gathering, said that the Centre is looking forward to upscale the HCNG commercially so that the price comes down. Gahlot, at the ceremony, said that the Government of Delhi has provided Rs 15 crore for setting up the Raj Ghat plant. He further said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also identified HCNG as a potential improvement over contemporary fuel and has notified on it in September. The consumption of HCNG showed a 70 per cent decline in carbon monoxide and 25 per cent slump in hydrocarbon emissions when compared to CNG, says the analysis of Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), added Gahot.
