GAIL to lay Rs 1400 cr additional LNG pipeline via Mangalore, Udupi

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jul 20: The Central public sector undertaking, Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), will be laying the 350 km long Dabhol-Bangalore liquefied nitrogen gas (LNG) pipeline from Chitradurga and Udupi via Shimoga and Mangalore at a cost of Rs 1400 crore.

The additional gas pipeline will be a diversion of the original Dabhol to Bangalore gas pipeline, according to GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi.

The Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M Veerappa Moily said GAIL was planning another 140-kms pipeline from Chitradurga to Bellary at a cost of Rs 700 crore.

GAIL would be laying the pipelines once the industry comes forward with their consumption requirements.

The Minister noted that 80 per cent of the Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline passes through Karnataka, which now has an opportunity to create a “green corridor.”

The Dabhol-Bangalore LNG pipeline and other additional linkages will benefit the entire State with a network of gas pipelines and also help the downstream industries, Tripathi said.

The CMD of GAIL said the pipeline would touche the highway every 100 kms and indicated of the possibility of having CNG stations there for the benefit of long-distance buses of KSRTC.

The State Government in collaboration with GAIL will establish 25 CNG filing stations across the Bangalore city for supplying CNG to Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

GAIL has aleady commenced delivery of gas through its 1,000 km-long Dabhol-Bangalore pipeline in February last.

The Central PSU, GAIL and the State Government signed the agreement in the year 2009 itself, he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday reviewed various oil and gas projects with Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily and State Ministers and top officials of the Government.

Siddaramaiah promised to exend all help for establishing the 25 CNG filling stations in the first phase mainly in BMTC bus depots to supply gas to BMTC buses.

BMTC would also purchase 300 new buses equipped with CNG engines under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

BMTC would be operating CNG buses in the next few months, the chief minister said.

The government and GAIL have already formed a 50:50 joint venture for the distribution of clean natural fuel for transport and other sectors in various cities of the State, he said.

Siddaramaiah said main objectives to shift from diesel based engineers to CNG engines to reduce pollution, and operation cost of BMTC buses.

“Bangalore City is highest polluted city now. Operating CNG buses will reduce environmental pollution and address resipiratory problems faced by the public,” he said

Gradually, he said the government would take steps to increase the the number of stations from 25 to 65 in the city.

GAIL has sought land for setting up stations and the government would provide required land.
 
“Gas based buses will run on Bangalore roads after five months,” he said.