Banaskantha: A video going viral on Facebook has turned a quiet stretch of the Tharad–Deesa Highway into a hotspot for CNG vehicle owners in North Gujarat. Shot by a local commuter, the video captures his surprise after spotting a board advertising CNG at just ₹70 per kg, significantly cheaper than the ₹83–84 he had recently paid in Ahmedabad.

In the video, the commuter urges people travelling between Tharad and Deesa, as well as those living in nearby villages, to take advantage of the limited-period inaugural offer available till 30 November. He highlights that the rate is not only lower than city prices but also cheaper than the regular ₹75 per kg charged at Banas Dairy’s CNG stations in the region.

He further explains that the station offering this discount is part of Banas Dairy’s Bio-CNG initiative, which converts cattle dung into clean fuel. By filling fuel at this pump, he says, motorists directly contribute to improving the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and cattle-rearers.

“Every kilogram of gas filled here increases the demand for dung,” he says in the video. “Higher demand means better income for farmers and cattle owners. The plant also produces organic fertilizer, which goes back to our farmers. Ultimately, the benefit stays within our own community.”

A Project Fueling Both Vehicles and Rural Prosperity

The viral video has drawn fresh attention to the Banas Bio-CNG Project, an innovative initiative by Banas Dairy in collaboration with Suzuki India Research Limited. Located near Agathala village on the Tharad–Deesa Highway, the pump sells Bio-CNG manufactured from cattle dung supplied to Banas Dairy by farmers.

Key features of the project:

• • Processes 1 lakh kg of cow dung daily

• • Produces 1,500–1,700 kg of Bio-CNG per day

• • Fuels 170–200 vehicles daily

• • Total project cost: ₹45 crore

The plant not only generates clean fuel but also produces organic manure, promoting chemical-free farming across Banaskantha.

For local farmers, the initiative has created a new income stream—cow dung, once considered agricultural waste, is now a valuable resource. For motorists, it offers cheaper fuel. For the region, it represents a rare model where environmental sustainability and rural livelihood enhancement go hand-in-hand. DeshGujarat