A little word of caution

First of all, there is no awareness about the importance of getting the LPG retrofitment kits from certified manufacturers. Auto-rickshaws and vehicle owners tend to look out for cheap solution and more often they buy counterfeit kits from local unauthorised vendors. The installation of the kits is carried out by any next-door mechanics than the trained ones, thereby raising the risk.

The blessing

The rate at which LPG kits are fitted in autos is cheapest in Kolkata as compared to other metros. Bangalore has more than 50,000 autos running on LPG and for Chennai the figure is 10,000. Both cities have 14 LPG refilling stations. In contrast, Kolkata has 12 LPG pumps and barely 2,500 LPG auto-rickshaws. While the auto-rickshaws are at risk, it is equally important for users of both the private and the commercial cars to know the do’s and don’ts. Domestic cylinders are a strict no, as they are illegal. Vehicles opting for duel fuel — both petrol and LPG— will have to install a LPG conversion system called the “retrofitment kit”.

Retrofitment kit

A retrofitment kit is the most vital set of equipment that need to be installed if the vehicle owners are opting for a switchover from petrol to LPG. A single kit consists of 17 components including a tank, a multi-valve and a vaporiser. It can be fitted in both cars and auto-rickshaws. Each of the components has to be separately certified by different government agencies like the ARAI. The multi-valve for instance has to be certified by the Chief Controller of Explosives. The kit as a whole has to be certified by authorised testing agencies. A “type approval certificate” has also to be obtained. The manufacturers have to seek a certificate from the state government in which it wants to operate and has to obtain a “state type approval certificate”.

Flouting rules

The ground reality is that even if the companies have obtained the necessary clearances, the centres, which carry out the installation works, often flout the rules. For instance, retrofitment centres, even those with authentic licences, tend to buy cheaper kits from the grey market. “This is quite risky if not outright dangerous. Safety is the first casualty here,” said Sharad Jhawar, a LPG kit manufacturer. The January incident was essentially a fall out of this negligence. The kit was not purchased from a certified manufacturer.

Points to remember

With CNG not being an option in Kolkata, LPG is an equally good alternative as a clean fuel as long as one exercises caution, which includes:

* Check that the retrofitment kit has a valid “type approval certificate” and subsequently a “state type approval certificate” from an authorised agency.

* Do not go for counterfeit kits to cut costs.

* The installation should be carried out in a workshop with a valid licence. If required one can demand to see the licence of the workshop.

* Ask for the kit warranty card.

* Ask for the distributor’s certificate. This will ensure that the kit is bought from the authorised distributor of the company. A certified LPG conversion kit has an inbuilt safety system.

Experts’ comment

Automobile experts accuse the Regional Transport Authority and the Public Vehicles’ Department for issuing licences indiscriminately to workshops without carrying out real inspection. “The installation is a specialised job and cannot be done by just anyone. Some of the ‘authorised’ workshops lack even the basic infrastructure,” said S M Ghosh, an environment expert and a technocrat.

The negligence