PUNE: With the addition of seven Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in last three months in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Talegoan, the total number of CNG stations has now reached 65, according to AM Tambekar, outgoing Managing Director of Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL). 

The company is planning to expand to 100 stations in the city by 2021.

“There are around 2.5 lakh CNG vehicles and to cater to that, 100 CNG pumps are enough for the city. We are hopeful that by 2021 we will achieve this target,” said Tambekar.

“There are 50 more CNG stations in the pipeline,” Tambekar said. 

MNGL is also considering using private land as Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) are unable to provide them with land in areas with high demand. 

Tambekar added, “It is important to have the land in the right places especially in areas with higher demands which PMC and PCMC are unable to do. Thus, we are also considering private land and 30 dealerships have been awarded.”

“There are oil manufacturing companies who already have petrol pumps and offered land to put up CNG facility and we are in talks with almost 25 to 30 of them. We have also received around 3 to 4 land pieces from PMC as well for installing pumps,” added Tambekar.