Hyderabad|India|September'2010:The Chairman, Petroleum, Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), Mr L. Man Singh assured the Chief Minister Dr K Rosaiah that the cooking gas will start reaching the kitchens of the citizens of the GHMC area positively in two months time. The piped cooking gas distribution will start from NALSAR Colony, Shamirpet and will be extended to other parts of the city soon.

The Chief Minister thanked Mr. Man Singh and his officials for all the support extended to Andhra Pradesh in honoring the requests. He said the PNGRB has been extending the fullest support to Andhra Pradesh in developing an Integrated Gas Grid. The Chief Minister said the PNGRB accepted the State proposal for district as a unit in City Gas Distribution and are thankful that district-wise gas distribution plan is being laid.

The Chief Minister expressed happiness that the PNGRB has recently notified four districts--Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nalgonda and Khammam for bidding to develop City Gas Distribution net work. Already the City Gas Distribution for Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Kakinada and Rajahmundry has been awarded and the work is in progress. The APGIC is going to submit bid documents for 4 districts, which are recently notified.

Dr Rosaiah said the State Government (Andhra Pradesh Gas Infrastructure Corporation--APGIC) requested the PNGRB to take up trunk line between Kakinda and Kolkotha, so that the distribution net work can be laid in the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam, as the Kakinada-Kolkata trunk line has not been taken up so far. He said the State Government (APGIC) will be approaching the PNGRB for City Gas Distribution net work for the remaining districts in the State, starting from West Godavari, Krishna, Warangal, Karimnagar, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and East Godavari. The Gas Distribution in the districts falling south to Krishna river is also being planned by the State and shortly Expression of Interest will be filed with the PNGRB.

He said a proposal for a regional grid for the entire State is under preparation and the State Government (APGIC) will approach the PNGRB for bidding shortly. The Chief Minister requested the PNGRB to extend the same support, as they have been giving, in future also to complete the plans which APGIC has prepared for the Gas Distribution in Andhra Pradesh for all the sectors including domestic, industrial, transport, commercial, power and fertiliser plants etc. The State Government requested the PNGRB to complete all the trunk lines passing through Andhra Pradesh and wanted the Kakinada-Chennai trunk line to be taken up on priority basis as it will give gas connectivity for all the districts of south coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, as large number of industrial units are coming up in Chittoor, Tirupati and Nellore Districts.

The Chief Minister was told that the bid process for Central India trunk line, which is crossing the districts of Krishna, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad is on. He said that the same should be finalised and awarded as early as possible; Trunk line connecting Chennai and Bangalore should also be completed as it will cater to the requirements of Rayalaseema districts. Dr. Rosaiah also thanked the PNGRB for all the support they have extended and assured that Andhra Pradesh will extend full cooperation in achieving the objectives of development of gas net work in Andhra Pradesh.
 

-Sept'2010