Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) has launched an artificial intelligence-enabled vehicle recognition system at 10 CNG stations in Delhi to prevent vehicles with expired or invalid cylinder hydrotest certificates from refuelling. The system uses station cameras to capture registration numbers and checks cylinder certification through an AI application linked to the online Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) portal.
When the system identifies an expired or invalid certificate, it sends automated alerts to station staff through handheld devices, LED displays and public announcement systems. This allows personnel to stop the refuelling process before gas is dispensed, IGL said.
The technology supplements the manual checks already carried out by station staff at CNG stations. Under the prescribed safety system, CNG cylinders must undergo hydrotesting once every three years at PESO-approved testing centres. The checks are intended to establish whether a cylinder remains fit for continued use.
The pilot project 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.
The rollout follows a cylinder blast at a retail outlet in the capital in August. According to IGL, the vehicle involved had additional cylinders that had been mounted illegally. After the incident, PESO asked city gas distribution companies to strictly enforce safety norms at CNG stations.
IGL said the AI system would soon be installed 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.
Alongside the technology rollout, IGL said it had strengthened its safety management plan for CNG station operations. The plan includes mechanisms to monitor compliance, identify violations, take corrective action and enforce penalties where necessary. The next step is the expansion of the AI-based verification system across the company’s wider station network.
