PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone for INR 1,000 Crore City Gas Projects in West Bengal

In a major push for clean energy access and infrastructure development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in the districts of Alipurduar and Coochbehar, West Bengal.

The projects are expected to significantly enhance the region’s access to clean and cost-effective fuel solutions. Estimated at over INR 1,000 crore, the initiative aims to supply Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to more than 2.5 lakh households, over 100 commercial and industrial units, and introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles through 19 planned CNG stations. The completion deadline for the project is set for September 30, 2030.

Natural gas will be tapped from Ambari and Ghoksadanga stations operated by GAIL in Coochbehar district. Infrastructure will include steel and MDPE pipelines, equipment for domestic, commercial, and industrial PNG connections, and CNG stations for cleaner vehicular fuel.

The CGD project is projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 27 percent, amounting to a reduction of approximately 98,000 metric tonnes over 25 years, equivalent to planting nearly 50 lakh trees. It is also poised to generate over 22 lakh man-days of direct and indirect employment, promoting economic growth in the region.

Once operational, the network will benefit over 42 lakh people, offering a more reliable, environment-friendly, and economical energy alternative to traditional fuels.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), the project’s executing company, is one of India’s leading oil marketing companies and a Fortune Global 500 entity. With a refining capacity of 35.3 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) across its refineries in Mumbai, Kochi, and Bina, BPCL has built a vast distribution and marketing network across the country.

The company has already installed 6,500+ electric vehicle charging stations and is committed to becoming a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040. BPCL continues to invest in sustainable solutions, community development, education, water conservation, and health initiatives under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.