Project to enable implementation of city gas networks in 17 major cities and connect them with clean fuel natural gas
New Delhi : In a significant move towards fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment towards overall development of Eastern India and meeting its energy requirements, work is all set to commence on the 2,050 km Jagdishpur – Phulpur – Haldia natural gas pipeline which will serve as the ‘Energy Highway’ to carry the efficient and environment-friendly fuel to West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
The pipeline project, which will connect Eastern India with the national gas grid, was announced by the Prime Minister at a public function in Ranchi.
The pipeline will benefit millions of people in the four states and lead to setting up of City Gas Networks in 17 major cities of the region, i.e, Varanasi, Allahabad, Patna, Gaya, Chhapra, Siwan, Gopalganj, Mujaffarpur, Bettiah, Bhagalpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Asansol, Durgapur and Kolkata. Thus, residents of these major cities can enjoy the convenience of piped natural gas (PNG) that directly reaches households and the economical compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles. Besides city gas distribution, the pipeline will supply feedstock/fuel to fertilizer and power plants and major industries located in the region.
The estimated investment for the Jagdishpur – Phulpur – Haldia pipeline project is about Rs 10,000 crores. The first phase of the pipeline will have a capacity of 16 MMSCMD which would be augmented to 32 MMSCMD in the second phase.
The fertilizer plants which will benefit from the project include units at Gorakhpur, Barauni, Sindri and Matix Durgapur. In addition, the pipeline will also supply natural gas to Refineries at Barauni and Haldia, steel industries, power plants and other large SME manufacturing units in the region.
The pipeline will also boost up agricultural and economic development and generate employment opportunities in the region.
The Jagdishpur – Phulpur – Haldia pipeline will consist of 922 km main line (36 inch-diameter) and 1,128 km spur lines and feeder lines (12 to 30 inch diameter). The compressor station will be located at Haldia.
GAIL has already started activities related to detailed survey of the pipeline route. The survey will include Engineering Survey (topography, Population Density Index, Soil Resistivity and Soil Investigation Survey) and Cadastral Survey (collection of revenue details of every village along the route along with ownership details). Actual construction activities will commence once the survey is completed.
It is estimated that the project will have 46 river crossings, 17 Railway crossings, 14 State Highway crossings and 12 national Highway crossings, thus making it one of the most difficult engineering projects of its kind.
