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Sajeev Kumar V.

KOCHI, March 2

THE Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), as part of its modernisation programme, is planning to convert all its diesel-run fleet into LPG-run buses in a phased manner.

The Corporation has entered into a tie-up with the Chennai-based Indian Auto Gas Company Ltd, a consortium of eight auto gas companies, for converting the existing diesel buses to LPG. The process of converting the first bus has already commenced in Thiruvananthapuram, which is expected to be completed in a month, Mr Biju Varghese, Chief Branch Operator, Indian Auto Gas Company Ltd, said.

The company, he said, intends to adopt an American technology called fumigation technology in buses as this system has a lot of advantages compared to CNG conversion method adopted in New Delhi and Mumbai. The main advantage is that a diesel bus when converted into CNG cannot run on diesel again, whereas an LPG conversion by way of fumigation system enables it to run on diesel as well as LPG, he said.

The first round of discussions between the two companies is already over. In the initial stage, KSRTC is planning to try this system in 120 city service buses operating in Thiruvananthapuram. It is estimated that with the conversion to LPG, 70 per cent of the pollution can be reduced and Re 1 can be saved per kilometre.

Compared to CNG, the fuel consumption is very less. The cost of conversion for this is less than one-third the cost of conversion of CNG. According to Mr Varghese, LPG converted vehicles with fumigation technology are running very successfully in countries such as the US, Vietnam, Italy, Hongkong and the Netherlands. To promote LPG vehicles in India, the Government has also reduced the import duties of autogas kits, he added.

To make a drastic change in the fuel distribution system in the State, the company is planning to commission 16 LPG pumps by the end of December this year.

It has received the necessary permission from the Department of Explosives as well as from the Ministry of Surface Transport in this regard. Six such pumps will start functioning within three months, he said.

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