Six Jharkhand districts have been included in the Centre’s city gas distribution project, bids for which would be accepted under the 10th round of the process that was introduced to prospective investors on Tuesday at a Ranchi hotel.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), the nodal agency for facilitating economic activity in natural gas distribution, organised a road show at which 100-odd prospective investors showed up.

“Through this process, the board wants to promote competitive markets, create infrastructure and increase the share of natural gas in the country's energy mix,” said the regulatory board’s chairperson, D.K. Sharraf.

Tuesday’s road show was among 10 such shows being planned to promote the 10th city gas distribution (CGD) bidding process meant to open 50 geographical areas of the country, including six districts of Jharkhand. The bids will be accepted till February 5.

About 13,500km of gas pipelines have been laid across the country and the bids were for authorising investors to set up distribution channels to reach users, Sharraf explained.

“This is a big initiative towards providing clean energy to users including those of Jharkhand,” he said, adding that the process of distribution would involve connecting households with natural gas supply lines and setting up CNG stations for refilling vehicles.

CGD authorisation has already been given to cover seven districts of the state, namely, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Ranchi and East Singhbhum, he said.

The 10th bidding round would cover six more districts, namely, Koderma, Deoghar, Chatra, Palamau, Seraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum.

“With 13 of 24 districts of the state being brought under the distribution network, it will cover 58 per cent of the state’s area and 69 per cent of its population,” Sharraf later told the media.

He said work had already begun in the key cities. “We will complete connecting 1,800 households in Ranchi and 2,000 in Jamshedpur by the end of this year,” said K.B. Singh, executive director of Gas Authority of India (GAIL) that has been entrusted with the work.

Two CNG stations, one each in Ranchi and Jamshedpur, were also being set up.

Initially, gas would be supplied though a cascade system where a container carrying natural gas would supply natural gas to households, he explained.

“The state will extend all help to investors and try to sort out problems they face,” state urban development minister C.P. Singh, who was chief guest, assured the prospective bidders.

“Jharkhand is an investor-friendly state and we will resolve any problem, such as acquiring land for setting up CNG stations, investors may face,” reiterated industries secretary K. Ravikumar.