{
  "id": 9269963,
  "title": "IGL CNG pumps use AI to check test certificates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/igl-cng-pumps-use-ai-to-check-test-certificates",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-23T04:13:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/cng-pumps-can-check-for-expired-cylinder-certificates-automatically-now-igl-has-started-using-cameras-to-match-vehicle-number-plates-with-hydro-test-records-before-allowing-refuelling/articleshow/134424918.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Delhi-based gas distributor Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has introduced a cutting-edge AI-powered system to verify CNG cylinders at the pump before refueling vehicles. Cameras positioned at each station entrance capture the number plate of every incoming vehicle, which is then cross-referenced with CNG cylinder hydro-test certification records to identify vehicles running on expired or invalid cylinders, as reported by ANI. The automated system has been piloted at ten retail outlets as part of a broader enforcement initiative aimed at bolstering the safety of CNG cylinders onboard vehicles.\n\nHow does the camera and AI system function? High-resolution cameras installed at each station entryway scan the registration plate of every approaching vehicle. This data is processed through an AI application that confirms the vehicle's connection to its CNG cylinder and cross-checks this information against compliance records stored on the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) online portal. According to IGL, the system would enable the matching of vehicle registration details with CNG cylinder hydro-test certification records, allowing for the swift identification of vehicles with potentially expired or invalid hydro-test certifications.\n\nWhat happens if a vehicle fails the check? If a vehicle fails the automated verification process, station personnel are immediately alerted through handheld terminals, digital LED boards, and public address announcements. This ensures that both staff and customers are promptly informed about the failed check. Despite this, IGL emphasizes that the automated system does not replace the existing manual safety checks; forecourt staff still inspect paper certificates before fuelling any vehicle, and company officers conduct field inspections to ensure that attendants only dispense fuel after verifying the necessary documentation.\n\nIs the automated system replacing manual checks at CNG stations? No, the automated system operates in tandem with the existing manual safety process. While the AI-powered verification system enhances efficiency and traceability, forecourt staff continue to perform manual inspections, such as examining paper certificates before refueling any vehicle. The company aims to combine both processes to minimize reliance on manual oversight while establishing a centralized, traceable monitoring system across its outlets.\n\nWhat legal requirement governs these hydro-test checks? The certification checks are governed by a legal mandate. Under Rule 35, Sub-rule (1) of the Gas Cylinders (Amended) Rules, 2025, every vehicular CNG cylinder must undergo hydrostatic testing once every three years. This test must be conducted at testing centers certified by the PESO. Vehicles that fail to meet this requirement are denied fuel until their owners provide an updated testing certificate. IGL highlights that the digital check is part of a larger digital safety ecosystem, with the potential for further integration of relevant CNG cylinder certification information with vehicle-related databases, subject to regulatory frameworks.\n\nWill this system be expanded beyond the initial ten stations? Presently, the automated verification system is limited to ten outlets. However, IGL plans to gradually expand the system across its broader regional station network as part of its ongoing commitment to leveraging technology and digital solutions to enhance CNG refuelling safety standards. Until the system's expansion occurs, vehicle owners at the ten covered stations can anticipate their number plates being scanned and cylinder certifications checked automatically each time they fuel up, alongside the continued reliance on manual paperwork checks.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}