KARACHI, July 21: As many as 33 local firms on Saturday offered their services to develop, operate and manage five CNG stations basically aimed at catering to the fuel needs of the fleet of CNG buses soon to arrive in the city.

The city government had called Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from local companies for the establishment of CNG stations as part of its public-private partnership.

The five points identified as the sites for these proposed gas station are: Ex-KTC depot Orangi Town near Abdullah College (6.15 acres), Ex-KTC Malir Depot on National Highway (12.10 acres), Ex-KTC depot Surjani Town (4 acres), Shah Latif Town near Malir Development Authority (1.67 acres) and Gulistan-i-Jauhar Block 6 (8.36 acres).

EDO Transport and Communication Department Mohammad Athar told Dawn that 10 offers were received for setting up a CNG station at Orangi Town and 10 offers for Malir, seven offers for Gulistan-i-Jauhar station, five for Surjani Town CNG station and one company applied for Shah Latif Town CNG station.

“During the next two weeks we will evaluate the offers after which a final decision will be taken to award the contract for setting up and running the CNG station,” he added.

In the meanwhile, the city government would also approach the Sui Southern Gas Company for provision of gas pressure required to fill up CNG buses, the official said.

He said that it would be a five-year renewable agreement through which the company would be responsible for the operations and maintenance of the CNG station and the city government would get a percentage of the revenue.

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal told Dawn that for filling up of new CNG buses an interim arrangement was being taken with reputable oil companies including the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) so as to facilitate the operators. He said that the work for the establishment of CNG bus stations would begin within a month.