LPG Gas in the pipeline

Vatika City boasts of Gas banks, an indigenous cooking gas service supplied inside the kitchen.

If you want to see an innovation at its best, visit Vatika City to witness 'Gas banks'. It has been fulfilling daily needs of around 1000 families residing in the area.
Vikas Gupta, general secretary, Apartment Buyers Association of Vatika City said, "We have Gas banks, which are installed in utilities area of the society. Each gas bank contains 25 cylinders of 47 kg each. There are 4 gas banks which run together to provide cooking fuel to the complex. The cylinders are connected in a series and there are yellow pipes running from gas banks to each household. In each house, calibrated meters, which measure the consumption, have been installed. At the end of the month, a person of the company managing the gas banks comes to take reading and a bill is generated."
It is a very effective, safe and conventional method. Gulshan Kapoor, a senior citizen and resident of Vatika City said, "In this, we are using Bharat Petroleum gas cylinders and the entire contract of laying pipes and installing meters was given to a Delhi-based company. While there was an option to use 14.2 kg, 19 kg, 35 kg and 47 kg cylinders, 47 kg was chosen viewing the high consumption of the fuel by the residents."
The best part is that now, the residents don't have to wait for days for an LPG cylinder and it is also better than LPG. However, it is a bit expensive. In Delhi, PNG is provided at a lower rate like Rs 30 per SCM whereas in Vatika, the gas is still given according to kg and it does not take into account the specific gravity variation and conversions. Earlier, RWA had met Bharat Petroleum officials and they are in the process of establishing the conversion ratio. But presently, the biller converts the meter reading by implication factor of 2.6 from liquid to vapour. According to this, the factor should be 2 and the gas costs around Rs 28.38/kg since July 2011.
Apartment Buyers Association of Vatika City Vice-president NS Chib said, "Presently, it is slightly expensive than a LPG cylinder, but the advantages are worth the price difference. Residents are very happy to have this system."

"Presently, it is slightly expensive than a LPG cylinder, but the advantages are worth the price difference. Residents are very happy to have this system.
N S Chib, Vice-president, Aba, Vatika city"

--Prateek Chauhan