New Delhi

A long wait ahead for Ghaziabad, Noida

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

NEW DELHI: Despite the Uttar Pradesh Government allotting distribution of natural gas in Ghaziabad to Indraprastha Gas Limited and in Noida to Gujarat Adani Energy Limited this past Wednesday, it may take years and not just months for residents of these satellite townships to see a transformation in the transport, domestic and commercial fuel requirements as the companies do not have the allocations of gas from the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas for the areas allotted to them.

Sources said there appeared to be a design in the way in which the allotments had been made. While IGL, the sole supplier of natural gas in Delhi, had secured allocations for Noida and Greater Noida, it was deliberately kept out of the purview for these developed townships: and as a face-saver was allotted Ghaziabad for which it had bid but is yet to get the allocation of gas for this district from the Centre.

So, as of now, neither IGL nor the Adani group have the allocations of gas to start operations in Ghaziabad or Noida, for which they have been given exclusive distribution rights. And as far as Greater Noida is concerned, there is no word yet on who would get the contract for this upcoming township despite IGL being the lone bidder for supply of natural gas here. With natural gas becoming a major revenue spinner more and more companies are becoming eager to become a part of the big distribution network even if they do not possess any experience in actual city distribution. The example of Delhi is enough to lure companies into throwing their hats in the ring.

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