Barauni-Guwahati gas pipeline project to start in December: GAIL

Guwahati: GAIL (India) Limited on Thursday announced the award of contract worth Rs 1,100 for the purchase of 616 km of steel pipeline for the Barauni-Guwahati pipeline project.

The development puts on fast-track project execution of the crucial 729-km feeder line linking Northeast India with the upcoming ‘Indradhanush’ gas grid network. Construction works to the crucial spur line connection will commence in December this year, the national gas authority said in a statement in New Delhi.

The pipeline, which will act as a bridge line for the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project, is of much importance for the region as it will give access to the national gas grid.

Announcing the contract, B C Tripathi, chairman and MD of GAIL, said, “The award of the tenders supports ‘Make in India’ efforts of steel pipe manufacturers and suppliers in the country and marks completion of mainline ordering for the entire 729 km section.”

The ‘Indradhanush’ gas grid network, being developed by GAIL along with JV partners IOCL, OIL, NRL and ONGC, is supposed to provide uninterrupted supply of natural gas across all the Northeastern states.

The Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project endeavours to connect east and Northeast states of India with the existing gas pipeline grid to ensure access of clean energy solutions for household, transport, industrial and commercial applications in the energy deprived region.

Work across India’s single largest pipeline spanning 3,400 km under Jagadishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra project is in full swing and progressing as per schedule. Physical progress under phase-1 of the flagship project is 92% complete and it is expected to be completed within the next two months, whereas the balance phases including the additional section under Barauni-Guwahati spurline are lined up for sequential completion by December 2021.