While the first prepaid meter project was funded by JICA of Japan, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution was hoping for foreign funding for the second project in Chattogram. After the second project did not show light, Karnaphuli Gas is undertaking the third project with its own financing to meet the needs of the customers.
The tender process for pre-paid gas meters will be opened next month. Karnaphuli Gas has around 6 lakh residential customers in Chattogram. Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited is opening the tender for installation of prepaid gas meters for these customers on November 2. Authorities say that the work will be started in April next year.
The company has received 76,500 customer applications for prepaid meters online since February 14 this year. However, the revenue department is looking at the loss again after finding discrepancies in gas distribution in the application of 1500 customers.
A KGDCL official said some anomalies were found in 1500 customer applications. Those with 4 lines applied for 3. Again, it was seen in the application that the name of the gas line was allocated, it came in another name. As a result, in many cases, it takes time to solve all these problems after the application paper goes to the revenue department.
But those who use less gas will get benefits from installing pre-paid meters. Besides, GI line from riser to kitchen for each stove has to be laid by the customer at his own cost. Leakage in GI line should be repaired by KGDCL approved contractor. There should be adequate ventilation in the kitchen. Many people are not interested due to these reasons.
Karnaphuli Gas took steps in 2014 to connect residential gas users to prepaid meters in Chattogram city. Later, on December 30 of that year, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved the first project of adding 60,000 prepaid meters at a cost of Tk 222 crore 48 lakh. The project will be completed in 2019. A total of Tk 149 crore was spent on the project to install 60,000 prepaid meters. Where the cost saving is more than 73 crore rupees. Karnaphuli Gas Distribution has recently allocated Tk 241 crore and the project implementation period is set to June 2023.
