By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 19, 2018: Three gas distribution companies will invest about Rs 3,424 crore in seven geographical areas (GAs) covering 17 districts in Odisha to provide piped natural gas to households, commercial and industrial segments under the Central government’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) project, official sources said on Monday.

The project is expected to provide employment to around 20,000 people of the state.

These companies will make the investments over eight years in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Bargarh, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has offered 86 new GAs covering 174 districts across the country in its 9th City Gas Distribution (CGD) Bidding Round.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for CGD projects in 63 GAs across India, including seven in Odisha, through a live video streaming programme at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on November 22.

Four GAs have been awarded to Bharat Gas Resources Limited with an approximate project cost of Rs 1252 crore. It will invest Rs 174 crore for Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada districts, Rs 466 crore for Jajpur and Keonjhar districts, Rs 364 crore for Angul and Dhenkanal districts and Rs 248 crore for Bargarh, Deogarh and Sambalpur districts respectively, said a senior official of Bharat Gas.

It will have 61 CNG stations in the nine districts with 67,000 households connected with piped natural gas.

Adani Gas Ltd has bagged the contract for Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts for 20 CNG stations and 1.5 lakh domestic connections over a span of 8 years with a total investment of Rs 500 crores.

GAIL Gas Ltd will invest Rs 1,672 crore in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Ganjam, Nayagarh and Puri districts.

PNGRB is in the process of launching the 10th CGD bidding round in 50 GAs spread over 14 states, 123 districts and covering additional 24 per cent of India’s population.