Motihari: The foundation for laying a medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) pipeline to supply piped natural gas (PNG) under Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (BPCL) city gas distribution project was inaugurated in Motihari on Sunday by MP and former Union minister Radha Mohan Singh. The Rs 2,000-crore project will bring clean and affordable fuel to thousands of homes.Regional manager (gas) of BPCL said nearly 50,000 households in Motihari would be connected to the PNG network within a year. Unlike liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which comes in cylinders, PNG is supplied directly through pipelines, offering an uninterrupted supply and enhanced safety due to its lower pressure and quick dissipation in case of leaks.“Until 2014, only 15,340km of gas pipelines had been laid in the country. In the past 10 years, this has grown to around 25,000km and another 10,000km is under construction,” Singh said. He credited the Narendra Modi-led central govt for this expansion and added that gas pipeline development offers an economical and eco-friendly transport solution.The petroleum ministry has authorised BPCL to execute city gas distribution in East and West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan and Deoria districts in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. A steel pipeline is being laid from Gorakhpur to Bettiah and Raxaul, via Deoria, Siwan and Gopalganj. Once completed, natural gas will benefit not only households but also hotels, restaurants and small industries, reducing monthly fuel expenses and eliminating the need for cylinder refills.
