New Delhi. On the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the city gas distribution project in Alipurduar, West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this land of Alipurduar is not just connected by borders, but also by cultures. On one side is the border of Bhutan, on the other side is the salutation of Assam. On one side is the beauty of Jalpaiguri, on the other side is the pride of Cooch Behar. Today I have got the privilege of meeting all of you on this prosperous land.
PM Modi said that today when India is moving towards becoming a developed nation, Bengal’s participation is both expected and essential. With this intention, the central government is constantly giving new impetus to infrastructure, innovation and investment here. Bengal’s development is the foundation of India’s future. And today is the day to add another strong brick to that foundation. A while ago, we have launched the City Gas Distribution Project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar from this platform. This project will provide clean, safe and cheap gas through pipelines to more than 2.5 lakh households.
This will not only end the worry of buying cylinders for the kitchen, but will also provide safe gas supply to families. Along with this, the construction of CNG stations will also expand the facilities of green fuel. This will save money, time, and will also provide relief to the environment. I congratulate the citizens of Alipurdurwar and Cooch Behar for this new beginning. This project of city gas distribution is not just a pipeline project, it is also an example of doorstep delivery of government schemes.
He said that the progress India has made in the field of energy in the last few years is unprecedented. Today our country is rapidly moving towards a gas-based economy. Before 2014, 66 districts of the country had city gas facilities. Today the city gas distribution network has reached more than 550 districts. This network is now reaching our villages and small towns. Lakhs of homes are getting gas through pipes. Public transport has also changed due to DHFL. This is reducing pollution. This means that the health of the countrymen is improving and the burden on their pockets is also reducing.
This change has gained further momentum due to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Our government started this scheme in the year 2016. This scheme has made the lives of crores of poor sisters easier. This has freed women from smoke, their health has improved, and most importantly, an atmosphere of respect has been created in the kitchen of the house. In 2014, there were less than 14 crore LPG connections in our country.
Today this number is more than 31 crore. This means that the dream of providing gas to every home is now coming true. For this, our government has strengthened the gas distribution network in every corner of the country. Therefore, the number of LPG distributors across the country has also more than doubled. Before 2014, there were less than 14 thousand LPG distributors in the country. Now their number has also increased to more than 25 thousand. Gas cylinders are now easily available in every village.
