CNG filling stations shut for maintenance, public transport hit in Kanpur

KANPUR: Public transport was hard hit after closure of 10 CNG filling stations for 36 hours on Sunday for maintenance of pipes. The number of vehicles was less on roads and commuters faced hardships. Hundreds of autos and tempos remained off roads.
There was a rush on roads as over 17,000 candidates from neighbouring districts had come to appear in TGT examination which was organised at 49 centres in two shifts.People were seen waiting for autos and tempos.
The authorities of Central UP Gas Limited (CUGL) had kept one CNG filling station functional as it was not getting affected with the maintenance work. The pump remained open for 24 hours and witnessed rush. The pump staff had placed ropes to prevent the entry of the vehicles in the filling station.
The CNG supply to the filling stations had been cut by GAIL India Limited to carry out the task of maintenance of pipeline at Vijay Nagar crossing. Gas supply was cut for 36 hours between 6 pm on Saturday and 6 am on Monday.
CUGL supplies gas at filling stations for vehicles and at homes in the form of Piped Natural Gas (PNG). The supply of PNG was not affected as CUGL had maintained its supply through its reserves. But CNG availability remained zero. All other filling stations except the one at Chakeri remain closed. But it could not meet the requirements of the entire city.
Chakeri station is located in one corner of the city, every tempo, auto and bus could not reach there. Still it witnessed an increased rush.
On several routes, tempos and autos did not run. The e-rickshaws proved helpful but the operators were overcharging. People complained of overcharging but still paid to reach their homes. Commuters were seen at Chawla Market crossing, Nandlal Chauraha, Gurudev crossing, Rawatpur, Baradevi, Kidwai Nagar, Bada Chauraha, Parade crossing and other places.
The CUGL authorities informed that there are 39,000 CNG-run vehicles on the road out of which the major chunk is of autos, buses and tempos. The total daily consumption in the city is of 75,000 kgs, which is met by the 11 CNG filling stations. Around 8,000 kilos of CNG per day was sold by Chakeri CNG filling station alone.
The CNG stations will open after 6 am on Monday.