Kochi -Mangaluru gas pipeline will boost economic growth in K'taka and Kerala

New Delhi, January 05: Dedicating the project to the nation Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kochi - Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline through video conference this is an important milestone towards the creation of ‘One Nation One Gas Grid'.

 

While listing the advantages of the pipeline, he said that the pipeline would improve the ease of living in both the states and reduce the expenses of the poor, middle class, and entrepreneurs of both the states. He said the pipeline would become the base of the Gas Distribution System in many cities and would form the base of the CNG based transport system in these cities.

 

 

 

He said the pipeline will have a positive impact on the economic growth of these two states. He said the rapid expansion of the Gas based economy is a must to achieve self-reliant India and cited this as the reason behind Government’s push for ‘One Nation One Gas Grid’.

 

 

 

 

He added that the pipeline would become the base of the Gas Distribution System in many cities and would form the base of the CNG based transport system in these cities.

 

 

 

 

He said the Government is taking policy initiatives to increase the share of natural gas in India's energy basket from 6 Percent to 15 Percent. “Dedication of the Kochi-Mangaluru natural gas pipeline of GAIL is part of our journey to move towards One Nation One Gas Grid. Clean energy is important for a better future. This pipeline will help improve clean energy access” said the Prime Minister.

 

Pointing out at UPA goverment he said, "Since the first natural gas pipeline was commissioned in 1987, only 15,000 kms of pipeline were laid in 27 years and since 2014, in just six years, over 16,000 kms of new pipeline works have been taken up." He further added, his government has accelerated reforms in the oil and gas sector, improved accessibility of renewable energy, and completed the infrastructure needs of the sector at a faster pace.

 

PM Modi also said that the national gas pipeline network will be doubled in the next five to six years and CNG stations will be increased to 10,000 from the current 1,500. He added that the government is aiming to achieve a gas-based economy by increasing the share of natural gas in the country's energy consumption from the present 6.3 percent to 15 percent.

 

 

It should be noted that the Kochi-Mangaluru gas pipeline is part of the government's plan to connect Kerala and Karnataka to the national gas grid. This pipeline will help to provide an uninterrupted supply of natural gas to commercial and industrial units across the districts.

 

The pipeline has a transportation capacity of 12 million metric standard cubic meters per day. It will carry natural gas from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification Terminal at Kochi, Kerala to Mangaluru, Karnataka while passing through Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts.

 

 

 

According to PM Modi, this will develop a new ecosystem of employment and self-employment after its commissioning that would help the fertilizer, petrochemical, and power sector. It will also help India in saving thousands of crores of Foreign exchange for the country.

 

The 450-km-long pipeline has been built by Gail (India) Ltd and the total cost of the project was about Rs 3,000 crore. Its construction created over 1.2 million man-days of employment.

 

Governors and Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Kerala, along with Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas were also present on the occasion.