Media Release

Udupi, Nov 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the City Gas Distribution for 65 locations in the country through video conferencing from Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday, November 22. The programme was organized by Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board.

The foundation stone for Udupi location was also laid by Shobha Karandlaje, member of parliament, Udupi, Raghupati Bhat, Udupi MLA, Kota Srinviasa Poojary, leader of opposition, Karnataka Legislative Council, Lalaji Mendon, Kaup MLA, Sukumar Shetty, Byndoor MLA, Jayaprakash Hegde, former minister, Yogesh Bhat, former deputy speaker, Kishore Alva, Adani’s executive director, in presence of huge gathering of more than 6,000 people at Mahatma Gandhi Open Auditorium, Beedinagudde.

Kishore Alva welcoming the dignitaries informed that energy is very important for progress. “Statistics show that almost three-fourths of the demands of the energy in the world is fulfilled by fossil fuels. The overuse of these fossil fuels is clearly evident in the deteriorating environmental condition. Industries are not the only force to be blamed for this situation. Our choices of fuels for our vehicles and domestic application are also contributing to the growing environmental problems. Making smarter choices is the need of the hour,” he said.

He further told that at the household levels, many are still waiting to be enrolled by a gas agency, while in rural areas; food is cooked on polluting coal, wood or dung fires. “Traditional fuels are thermally inefficient; a substantial amount of fuel carbon is lost to incomplete combustion. The use of these traditional fuels causes worsening of air quality, negatively impacting the local environment and human health, particularly among women and children due to their exposure and close contact with burning fuels,” he said.
 
Kishore also informed that as compared to a Liquefied Petroleum Gas cylinder, Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is a cost-effective, safer and more economical choice. “Moreover, the nonstop supply of PNG will also help everyone to overcome the need to book and wait for cylinder replacement or for changing the bottles in between cooking. CNG is a clear, odourless, non-corrosive fuel. It is also a cheaper, cleaner and more efficient alternative to the traditional fuels used in vehicles. CNG gas also reduces the emission of Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Alva told that the usage of PNG will simplify the lives of millions of women in the country. “It will also take PNG supplies to hotels, religious places, restaurants, industries, crematorium and homes. Moreover, by giving up your LPG connections and taking up a PNG, you can help gas reach distant corners of our nation. On the other hand, CNG will help us save money and our priceless environment too,” he added.

Alva informed that Adani is focusing on developing Natural Gas distribution projects across various cities in the country for customers in industrial, commercial, domestic and transport sector. It has already set up city gas distribution networks in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Faridabad and Khurja. In the recently held 9th bidding round for City Gas Distribution across India, we successfully bagged Surendranagar district, Barwala and Ranpur Talukas, Navsari, Surat, Tapi and the Dang districts, Kheda and Mahisagar districts, Porbandar, Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri and Mahendragarh, Nuh and Palwal, Udupi, Bilwara and Bundi, Chittorgarh and Udaipur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur, he added.

Mentioning the highlights of the project for Udupi district that Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections to 1,10,099 households, 11 CNG retail outlets and 569 kms length steel pipeline, Alva informed that Adani shall be investing in excess of Rs 8,000 crore in the coming 8 to 10 years to develop the City Gas Distribution projects which shall generate close to 10,000 new jobs directly or indirectly. “With greener and cleaner fuels, we are committed to transforming our nation in a responsible manner,” Alva added.

Alva further informed that with this new project, Adani’s investment in Karnataka has reached nearly Rs 52,000 crores including Rs 11,500 crores for UPCL expansion, Rs 20,000 crores for solar project, which has commissioned 850 MW, investment at NMPT for additional cargo handling.

Shobha Karandlaje spoke on the occasion and informed that everyone should feel proud that Prime Minister Modi has extended the mega City Gas Distribution project to Udupi district. This project will ease the residents of entire district, she told. She also told that Adani which has already got set-up in Udupi and the district will be further benefitted with the Gas pipeline project.

Raghupati Bhat informed that the entire residents of Udupi district are lucky enough that they are getting the dream project of the Prime Minister to their district. He told that the project execution will soon be taken-up and the residents will start getting connections by the end of next year.

Kota Srinivasa Poojary spoke and informed that this project is a very handy to all households and industrialists and also to the vehicle users.

Zilla panchayat member Reshma Uday Shetty, taluk panchayat member Geetanjali Survana, district BJP president Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, industrialists Suresh Gurme, Vilas Nayak, former district BJP president Vikramaditya Tingalaya, Somashekar Bhat, were present on the stage during the launch programme.