Proposal to phase out CNG from public transport

Transport secretary seeks recommendations from OGRA, HDIP too; DIG Traffic orders crackdown against faulty cylinders

RAWALPINDI: Top transport authority in Punjab has suggested phasing out use of compressed natural gas (CNG) from vehicles, starting from public transport in the province and Rawalpindi.

Deadly accidents involving blasts due to CNG cylinder in vehicles in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and rest of the country has raised the issue of safety.

The transport department of Punjab has decided to take measures to get compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders removed from all public transport vehicles due to recurrent blasts.

Punjab Secretary Transport Syed Javed Iqbal Bokhari has summoned recommendations from Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and Hydro Carbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) in this regard.

Further, DIG Traffic Punjab has ordered to launch a province-wide crackdown against unfit CNG cylinders installed in transport vehicles.

In a letter to OGRA and HDIP, the secretary transport said that travelling in a public vehicle had become too risky and dangerous owing to unfit CNG cylinders which could explode at any moment.

While highlighting recent fire incidents in public transport vehicles which occurred near Sohawa and Muzaffagarh, he said that the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders should be installed in transport vehicles but instead CNG cylinders were being excessively used. He added that eighty laboratories established for inspection of CNG cylinders had almost become dysfunctional.

He asked both bodies to provide suggestions to completely eradicate CNG cylinders from public transport.

Accidents fail to move govt

Even after a deadly accident at the Islamabad Toll Plaza in which gas cylinders allegedly exploded and claimed the lives of 13 people in April this year, the regional transport authorities and district administration in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have turned a blind eye to vehicles which are operating with unfit gas cylinders installed.

The different regulatory and law enforcing authorities in the two cities however, appear to be dragging their feet over implementing the relevant orders in this regard and appear happy to pass the blame on.

After a host of deadly accidents in recent years, Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) had taken notice of the poor condition of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders in private and public transport vehicles and had banned their use in the wider public interest.

All relevant authorities have been directed to remove the deadly cylinders from vehicles, especially from school vans. However, the orders seem to have been disregarded by the related officials, even by the District Transport Authority.

Moreover, even the federal interior ministry seems to be unmoved over the issue.

When asked, a senior official of the Islamabad Police told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that not even a single vehicle installed with gas cylinders has been seized nor has any case been registered against any such vehicle owner in the past year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2019.