CNG on highways soon
The government plans to build green highway zones with compressed natural gas (CNG) stations along the route. The zones would be built along Delhi-Agra, Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Haridwar and Mumbai-Pune highways.
Dharmendra Pradhan, minister for oil & natural gas, said the government’s initiative to de-regulate the pricing of diesel has encouraged private players such as Essar, Reliance and Shell to re-enter the market and set up around 3,000 retail outlets across the country. He was speaking to reporters after the meeting of Consultative Committee of Parliament on ‘Marketing in a competitive environment’ here on Monday. India needs around 32,000 retail outlets over the next 10 years to cater to the growing customer needs. At present, there are 53,800 retail outlets in the country.
On the auctioning of 69 marginal fields, Pradhan said they had hydrocarbon resources worth Rs 70,000 crore and the bidding process would be completed by the year-end.