Bhubaneswar: With CNG fuelled vehicles slowly outnumbering the petrol 3-wheeler vehicles in the country, the trend in Odisha seems not that enthusiastic.
As per Odisha Transport Department data, the State figures along with states like Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat in the country that have witnessed a significant reduction in petrol consumption by the 3-wheelers.
In Odisha, though 3 wheelers run by diesel is still more than CNG run three-wheelers, the sale of CNG vehicles in the State have grown by a whopping 463% in last 4 –years.
According to the data available, the CNG vehicle count in the State was mere 1,270 in year 2021-22, the number stood higher at 7,152 in 2024-25.
- 2021-22: 1,270
- 2022-23: 3,148
- 2023-24: 4,935
- 2024-25: 7,152
Data of vehicle registration, however, shows with the advent electric vehicles, the rate of growth of four-wheeler electric vehicles have been outstanding in the State vis-a-vis CNG vehicles registered.
According to State Transport Department data, CNG three-wheelers in Odisha accounts for only 11% of total three-wheelers registered in the State over the years.
2025 VEHICLES REGISTRATION IN ODISHA
As per the data with the State Transport department, the first three months of 2025, a total of 1,73,173 vehicles have been registered. The fuel wise data shows petro-fuelled vehicles still leading the chart. This high petrol proportion is due to dominance of petrol-run 2-wheelers (1.38583 lakh).
- Petrol fuel vehicles: 1.33647 lakh
- Petrol/CNG: 1.287K
- Diesel: 17.794K
- CNG: 544
- Electric Vehicles: 8.79K (this first rise is due to two-wheeler + 4 wheeler)
In the year 2024, the State saw registration of over 8.11 lakh vehicles. CNG vehicles (2.625K) share stood at mere 0.32% as against the share of 2.2% by the Electric Vehicles.
WHY CNG VEHICLE SALE LOW?
Earlier, a few models of CNG vehicles were available that resulted in slower expansions. Manufacturers have not given greater attention on manufacturing CNG fuelled vehicles thank to limited availability of CNG stations in the country, including Odisha.
Also, earlier the CNG prices were high.
And, now, with the advent of EV (electric vehicles) thanks to FAME subsidy, all automobile manufacturers have switched on to the future - the EVs. Manufacturers are now focussing more on EV and less on Petrol/Diesel, and the CNG vehicles took a beating.
PNGRB CONCEDES EV BOOM
A recent report of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has the following findings.
- Nationally, CNG 3-wheelers now outnumbered petrol fuelled
- But diesel is still the largest 3-wheeler fuel
- In CNG vs EV growth rate, the PNGRB finds conspicuous trend.
- EV compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from March 2022 to March 2024: 87% in country
- CNG CAGR: 16.25%
- Petrol vehicles CAGR: 6.68%
- Diesel vehicles CAGR: 5.24%
As per PNGRB, since CNG vehicles CAGR is second highest after EV, though both have a low base effect, it has planned to increase the number of CNG stations in the country, including Odisha.
118 NEW CNG STATIONS SOON
The PNGRB has divided Odisha into 12 zones. In the zones specified, the total CNG filling stations stood at 129 as on today. By 2031, it has targeted to increase the total to 247, by adding 118 new stations.
As per PNGRB data, Bargarh is having the highest of 24 CNG stations in the State.
Interestingly, despite the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, having the largest vehicle density in the State, the CNG stations here stood lower at 17 and 13, respectively.
What seems more intriguing is the PNGRB has not specified any minimum work programmes (MWPs) for the twin cities.
As per a senior transport department official, “The CNG prices in capital Bhubaneswar is lower than diesel. The mileage offered by diesel 3-wheelers (Bajaj, Mahindra etc) stood at around 30kmpl, whereas the mileage by Mahindra CNG vehicles stood to 40-50kmpl. The shortage of CNG stations in the twin city is behind the slower sale of CNG 3-wheelers in the State.”
