National Gas Grid: 68 Per Cent Work Complete, All States Likely To Get Connected By 2026

A total of 23,173 kilometre of natural gas pipelines, including spur lines, are operational in the country and another 12,206 kilometre length of pipeline is under various stages of construction.

This information was provided by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, while replying to a question in Lok Sabha on 20 July.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), which is the regulator for gas pipeline infrastructure, has authorised the development of 33,592 km natural gas pipeline network in the country.

The pipeline projects are being implemented by various entities including oil companies as per the authorisation by PNGRB. All natural gas pipelines are part of the ‘Gati Shakti National Master Plan'.

Under-Construction Projects

The Minister in his reply also furnished target dates for the completion of various natural gas pipeline network under implementation.

• Kakinada-Vizag-Srikakulam: This natural gas pipeline in Andhra Pradesh, which is being executed by Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Corporation, will be completed by June 2024.

• Kakinada-Vijayawada-Nellore: This pipeline, in Andhra Pradesh which has been allotted to IMC Limited, is to be completed by March, 2024.

• Srikakulam-Angul: The 744-km-long pipeline project from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh to Angul in Odisha via Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, and Dhenkanal is to be completed by July 2023.
  

• Ennore-Nellore: The pipeline connecting Chennai's northern suburb of Ennore to Nellore in Andhra Pradesh was scheduled to be completed by April 2020, but is currently stalled due to litigation.

• North-East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid: The 1,656-km-long North-East gas grid, will cater to eight states of Northeastern India in a phased manner.

  Being executed by Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited — a joint venture company of five central public sector enterprises, namely, IOCL, Oil India Ltd, Numaligarh Refineries, ONGC, and GAIL — the entire project is targeted to be completed by 31 March 2024.

• Kanai-Chhata-Panitar Pipeline: Being developed by Hooghly Pipelines Private Limited, a subsidiary of H-Energy, the natural gas pipeline from Haldia to Panitar is to be completed by September 2023.

• Mumbai-Nagpur-Jharsuguda: The 1755-km-long ambitious project, encompassing vast geographical areas across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha is under the advanced stage of completion and has sought an extension till 30 October 2024.

• Jamnagar-Dwarka: The pipeline between Jamnagar and Dwarka in Gujarat will be completed by August 2024.

The 33,592 kilometre pipeline network will create a national gas grid in the country and help increase the share of natural gas in the primary energy mix to 15 per cent in 2030, from about 6.3 per cent currently.