Karnafuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) will gradually bring all residential customers of gas under prepaid service. At the same time, a specialized 'Mobile Gas Detective' vehicle will travel through the area of Chittagong to test the leakage of gas line and riser by next January.
Some KGDCL officials said that if these two projects are fully implemented, it will be possible to prevent gas accidents. However, in order to bring the benefits of these two projects, the concerned people think that it is very important to disconnect the unapproved and illegal gas connections.
KGDCL Engineering Department officials say the first phase of installation of about 6 million prepaid meters has been an unimaginable success. As a result, the customer is forced to turn off the gas stove from unnecessary use to save money.
On the other hand, even after the stove is off, the customer can easily understand whether there is a leak somewhere in the line by turning the prepaid meter and checking the amount of money. At the same time, due to the separate GI line for each burner (stove), it is possible to easily identify the leakage of the line.
Officials say bringing customers across Chittagong under prepaid meters will greatly prevent the number of explosions or accidents caused by gas line leaks. Gas wastage will also be prevented.
Sources at the KGDCL Board of Directors say that after the success of the 1st phase, another project is going to be launched in the next 3 months. Pre-paid meters will be installed in the entire city including Bakalia, Bayezid, Kotwali, Patenga as well as in Karnafuli, Hathazari, Sitakunda, Mirsarai, Patia, Boalkhali, Chandnaish, Anwara upazila areas of the district. All residential customers across Chittagong will be gradually brought under the prepaid meter. The project is expected to start in next 3 months. The project is scheduled for June 2023. The potential cost is estimated at around Tk 238 crore.
A gas detective vehicle will plow the field to prevent gas-related fire accidents in Chittagong. A board source said an agreement was signed last month with Singapore-based GCom Limited. This will be in charge of managing the organization.
KGDCL official said, “There is a mobile gas detector machine behind this special vehicle. When it runs on the road it will mark all the gas lines on both sides of the road. This machine will tell if there is any leakage in the line on both sides of the road. With the help of this machine, it will be possible to know at the moment how deep the gas line is in the soil.”
Officials said that repairs would be made along with the identified leaks. GCom Limited will test the gas lines in different areas of the city with this vehicle six days a week. This vehicle will cover at least 25 kilometers a day. In this way, the special vehicle will cover a distance of 600 km in the first step. This pilot project is coming first in the area under Karnafuli Gas Distribution.
KGDCL General Manager (Engineering Services) Engineer Md. Sarwar Hossain declined to comment when contacted. He mentioned that a circular has been issued regarding speaking to the media. There are various plans to protect human life and property. Hopefully, I will be able to gradually reduce the number of gas-related accidents to zero.
