Kolkata: Bengal Gas Corporation Ltd (BGCL) on Tuesday commissioned its fourth CNG station at a state-run bus depot, with the new facility at the SBSTC depot in Belgharia becoming the first such depot-based station to receive gas directly through a pipeline.The station, developed jointly by BGCL and South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) at a cost of Rs 3.2 crore, was inaugurated by state labour and transport minister Arjun Singh.Officials said the pipeline connection would ensure a more seamless and reliable CNG supply compared with stations dependent on gas transportation by cascades. The station will cater not only to govt buses but also to private CNG vehicles.BGCL currently has 33 operational CNG stations across its authorised geographical area. Of these, three are already operating from state transport depots — at WBTC’s Kasba depot, NBSTC’s Ultadanga depot and WBTC’s Tollygunge depot. Belgharia is the fourth.The company is now planning similar CNG facilities at WBTC’s Nilgunj and Barasat depots, SBSTC’s Howrah depot and Santragachi bus depot, significantly expanding the refuelling backbone for CNG-based public transport.SBSTC itself currently operates around 150 CNG buses, and officials indicated that the fleet could grow as refuelling infrastructure improves.“The govt is focusing on green energy so that pollution can be reduced. For this, more electric buses and CNG-powered buses will be introduced,” Singh said at the inauguration.
