Consumer activist flags safety risks at Kavadiguda HPCL CNG station days after launch
HYDERABAD: Just a few days after its inauguration, a newly launched CNG outlet at the HP Petrol Bunk in Kavadiguda is at the center of a serious public safety controversy, with consumer rights activist Ramagiri Hari Babu alleging that the facility began commercial operations in violation of multiple mandatory safety requirements, putting the lives of customers and the general public at risk.
The CNG outlet was inaugurated with considerable fanfare by senior officials including Amit Garg, Director-Marketing at HPCL, Raji Reddy, Chief Rationing Officer for Hyderabad, and K.V. Srinivas Raju, Managing Director of Bhagyanagar Gas Limited (BGL). However, according to Ramagiri Hari Babu, the high-profile launch concealed a troubling reality on the ground.
The activist lists three areas where the outlet fails to meet safety rules. Specifically, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) requires CNG outlets to display safety instructions. Hari Babu says the Kavadiguda outlet does not have these instructions. Without them, staff and customers lack critical safety guidance when handling high-pressure gas.
Furthermore, Hari Babu said the outlet violates the Gas Cylinders Rules. These rules are meant to ensure safe handling, storage, and dispensing of compressed gases. He claims the outlet does not follow basic safety protocols, increasing the risk of accidents with high-pressure cylinders.
In addition, Hari Babu says the staff at the outlet have not been properly trained. He alleges that operators do not know how to check hydro-testing certificates on CNG cylinders or inspect vehicle compliance plates before dispensing gas.
Moreover, hydro-testing is a required safety check for CNG cylinders in vehicles. Cylinders must be tested and certified as safe at regular intervals. If a cylinder’s hydro-test certificate is expired or unchecked, it may not safely hold high-pressure gas. Dispensing CNG into such a cylinder could lead to fatal explosions, the activist warns.
As a result, CNG vehicles are refueled near other vehicles, pedestrians, and the petrol station’s fuel storage. An explosion at the outlet could cause a disaster far beyond the single vehicle being filled.
Consequently, Hari Babu blames both HPCL and Bhagyanagar Gas Limited. He says they chose commercial speed over public safety. He argues that launching the outlet without meeting PESO requirements, Gas Cylinders Rules, or staff training shows a willingness to cut corners on safety for a quicker launch.
“HPCL and Bhagyanagar Gas Limited are risking innocent lives for commercial haste,” he said. His remarks serve as a formal public safety notice to the companies and their leaders.
The activist urges the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, PESO officials, and local authorities to intervene immediately. He wants an inspection of the Kavadiguda CNG outlet before a disaster occurs. He calls for operations to stop until the outlet meets all safety requirements, trains staff, and displays PESO safety instructions on site.
