Varanasi: When PM Narendra Modi launched the ambitious PNG project in July 2018, Varanasi’s oldest localities were not on the map. However, the LPG crisis after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz forced the govt, administration and GAIL to reconsider.As GAIL sped up work to extend PNG connections to more households, it took on the tough job of laying pipelines in old Kashi, marked by its maze of narrow, congested lanes. Today, PNG has made its way into old Kashi, beginning with the Annakshetra (food court) of the Kashi Vishwanath temple.GAIL general manager (Varanasi) Sushil Kumar told TOI, “We successfully took the pipeline up to KV Dham and charged the kitchen with PNG on April 17. The supply line will be expanding to Annapurna Temple’s Annakshetra and Manikarnika route soon. Our team is scanning old Kashi to explore areas where coverage of PNG network can be extended.”Although there was no major outcry over LPG cylinders in Varanasi after rationing began in late February amid US-Israel tensions with Iran, the city came into focus on March 14 when the Annapurna Temple shut its Annakshetra after running out of LPG stock. Acting promptly, district magistrate Satyendra Kumar ensured LPG supply to the Annapurna Temple’s kitchen and made sure availability was not disrupted at mutts, temples, ashrams, gurukuls, residential universities, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, old age homes and other institutions.Despite keeping the supplies of domestic cylinders normal as per the new schedule of booking and delivery introduced after Hurmuz blockade in March, the supply of commercial cylinders remained badly affected and many prominent restaurants and food outlets shut their kitchen.With pilgrim and tourist footfall remaining high despite the improving situation in West Asia, officials were compelled to focus on measures to keep commercial cooking unaffected.Explaining the pre-war scenario, GAIL officials said: “Before March, we gave around 100 connections daily in the city. By February-end, supply infrastructure was ready for over 1 lakh points, with operational connections crossing 67,000. Since March, the pace of laying pipelines and giving connections has nearly tripled — we now give about 350 connections daily. In the past 45 days, operational points have crossed 75,000. The target is to scale up to at least 500 connections per day.”Since the launch of the project, the process of expansion supply line to many localities like Madhopur, Nirala Nagar, Mahmoorganj and several others remained incomplete despite installing pipelines and other equipment at the buildings. Multiple issues like restriction on digging up road, crossing sewage, drainage and other lines resulted in keeping the progress stuck in many area, said GM mentioning, now GAIL has been given a freehand to expand the network in entire city.Apart from domestic, equal focus is on commercial clients. “We have 158 successful commercial consumers, mostly top hotels, sweet makers and restaurant operators and they are happy with the supply. Since March 1, approximately 41 commercial connections were given and 40 more will also get the connections soon, “ officials said.With the intensifying of pace of expanding supply lines in the city, the number of applications to seek PNG connection is remaining above 350 per day, said the GM mentioning how the demand for new connection remained meagre before March.On how the challenges of the old Kashi areas will be tackled, the GM said, “In those densely populated narrow lanes, our focus is on all technically feasible routes to lay lines for both commercial and domestic connections. Keeping govt’s intention in view we are working with an aim to make Kashi an LPG-free zone. We are hiring new contractors to increase giving 500-600 connections per day. We keep 2 things in mind — whether our equipment can go through those lanes and safety issue. In view of city’s topography we are working with two-wheeler fire tenders for those area where a 4-wheeler cannot reach.”Project benefits over 1.5m in KashiOn July 14, 2018, Modi inaugurated the Varanasi City Gas distribution Project. The project, which is implemented by GAIL (India) Limited, provides piped natural gas (PNG) to households, commercial establishments, and industries in Varanasi. The project benefits over 1.5 million people in the city. The Varanasi City Gas distribution Project is part of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a govt programme that aims to provide clean cooking fuel to poor households in India.The project has helped to reduce air pollution and improved the quality of life in Varanasi. The project is implemented in two phases. The first phase covered an area of 100 square kilometres. The second phase, completed in 2022, covers an additional 100 square kilometers significantly increasing the beneficiaries of this project.
