The imported gas is available at Rs.42,000 per tonne, as against the domestically produced gas that is sold at Rs.45,000,' Thomas said.

Present in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Indian Auto Gas will now enter Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra markets by the end of this year.

'We will add 579 stations by 2012 in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra,' he said.

Thomas said the demand for auto LPG is growing 15 percent annually, and each gas station will break even selling 1,000 tonnes a month.