In a bid to promote usage of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) across various cities in India, Gail India has entered into a partnership with Uber. In the first leg, the initiative is being rolled out in Bengaluru and will subsequently be extended to other cities. As part of this partnership, termed as “Hasiru Bengaluru” or “Green Bengaluru”, GAIL Gas CNG Stations and Uber will promote the adoption of cleaner fuels like CNG in Ubers in Bengaluru.

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Under this deal, GAIL Gas will provide free CNG to the first 500 cars joining under the programme, capped at a maximum of Rs 10,000 per car. 

GAIL Gas will be extending coupons to each of the participating Uber driver partners for Rs 2500 per month for the first four months.

Uber will provide a joining award of Rs 10,000 to the first 500 CNG vehicles driving with the platform. Uber will in turn, create awareness among its driver partner community on the benefits of CNG through several channels. 

With diesel and petrol prices rising, CNG presents an affordable and environment friendly alternative. The cost of CNG in Bengaluru is Rs 51.27 per kg. 

For vehicle owners, this can result in savings of around 60% over petrol, 50% over diesel alternatives and approximately 45% over auto LPG. For Uber drivers using CNG, this can mean monthly savings upto Rs 15,000.

To further promote cleaner fuel vehicles, GAIL Gas & Uber will also be leading conversations with OEMs, auto dealers and retrofitters.

B.C. Tripathi, Chairman & Managing Director, GAIL (India) Limited, said, “Alliance with Uber is a major step to fulfil our commitment in making Bengaluru’s air cleaner by expanding usage of CNG across the popular taxi ridership as we move towards a gas based economy under Government of India’s vision." 

Madhu Kannan, Chief Business Officer —India & Emerging Markets, Uber said, “For budding and current driver partners on Uber alone, use of CNG is expected to create monthly savings of upto ~Rs 15000. Together with GAIL Gas, we hope to develop a CNG ecosystem in the city with the active support of our driver partners as well as the public at large.”

For further boosting the uptake of CNG and improve accessibility to the fuel for Bengalureans, GAIL Gas is also making CNG available through Retail Outlets of other Oil Marketing Companies. 

Currently, there are six CNG stations operational at Laggere (Prem Nagar), APC Circle (Jigani), Peenya Industrial Area , Sungadkatte, Bommasandra Industrial Area in the city. 

The upcoming CNG stations also include places Agra, KR Puram, Goravigere, New Airport Road, Tata Nagar, Sarjapur Road. 

Overall, to cater to the demand and facilitate a strong ecosystem, 20 new CNG stations are expected to be operational by March 2019.