Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) has launched an artificial intelligence-enabled vehicle recognition system at 10 CNG stations in Delhi to prevent vehicles with invalid or expired cylinder hydrotest certificates from refuelling, following a cylinder blast at a capital outlet in August.
The system uses cameras installed at the stations to capture vehicle registration numbers. An AI application then checks the vehicle’s CNG cylinder hydrotest status against the online portal of the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), IGL said.
If a cylinder’s certification is expired or invalid, automated alerts are sent to station staff through handheld devices, LED displays and public announcement systems. This allows personnel to stop the vehicle before refuelling. The AI-based process will supplement the manual safety checks already conducted by station staff.
CNG cylinders are required to undergo hydrotesting once every three years at PESO-approved testing centres. PESO had directed city gas distribution companies to strictly enforce safety norms at CNG stations after the August blast. According to the report, the vehicle involved in that incident had additional cylinders that were illegally mounted.
The pilot system was launched at IGL’s Shantipath CNG station by Sanjay Kumar Singh, joint chief controller of explosives for PESO’s north circle. IGL managing director Kumar Shanker said every vehicle entering an IGL station should undergo the prescribed safety checks to protect customers, employees and the public.
IGL said it plans to install the system at all its CNG stations across Delhi-NCR and other cities under its jurisdiction. The company operates more than 300 CNG stations across 12 geographical areas covering 32 districts in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. CNG is also available at nearly 650 petrol pumps operated by oil marketing companies.
The company said it had also strengthened its safety management plan for CNG station operations. The plan includes mechanisms to monitor compliance, identify violations, take corrective action and impose penalties where necessary.
The rollout places the verification of vehicle-level safety documents within the routine operation of urban fuel infrastructure. IGL’s next step is to expand the AI system across its wider station network, while continuing the manual checks required under existing safety procedures.
