The government has launched compressed natural gas (CNG) kits for two-wheelers in Delhi. Called ‘HawaBadlo’, this first of its kind pilot programmehas been implemented on 50 two-wheelers and aims to cap the rising pollution levels in the capital city.
These CNG conversion kits have been manufactured by Iranian component manufacturer - Ituk Manufacturing India Pvt Ltd. Developed by Gail India, these CNG conversion kits have already been certified by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).Out of the first 50 two-wheelers, the first batch of ten scooters was flagged off at an event in Delhi.These vehicles will be monitored to keep a track of their emission levels, operating costs and fuel efficiency.
Gail India claims that these CNG conversion kits reduce hydrocarbon emissions by 75 per cent and carbon monoxide emissions by 20 per cent as compared to regular petrol-powered counterparts. Each of the experimental vehicles has two separate 1 kilogram cylinders, which require refuelling once in 120 kilometres.
While this programme is no doubt a step in the right direction, implementing it on a large scale will require a big infrastructural push too. CNG refuelling stations in metro cities are already overburdened serving auto rickshaws, taxi fleet services as well as passenger vehicles, and the addition of two-wheelers to this crowd might negate all the benefits. In case the government plans to implement this across the country, it is quite obvious that the refuelling infrastructure will also require a major upgrade.
