Centre reviews progress of Northeast Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project

GUWAHATI: Taking a step forward towards implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious Urja Ganga Gas Pipeline Project, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday night reviewed the progress of North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project, in New Delhi.

A Joint Venture, M/s Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) has been formed to execute the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid project connecting all the eight NE States through a 1656 KM-long gas pipeline network at an estimated investment of Rs. 9,500 crore. Five major Oil and Gas CPSEs namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Oil India Limited(OIL) & Numaligarh Refinery Limited( NRL) have formed the Joint Venture company with equal equity contribution. Various pre-project activities for this pipeline grid have already been commenced and efforts are being made to commence the physical works at the earliest.

Expansion of the North East Natural Gas grid though IGGL will promote employment opportunities in the region, providing the much needed boost to the economy and further increase the share of clean fuels in India’s energy basket other than being in line with PM Modi’s vision of ‘Purvodaya-Rise of the East.’

The Gas Grid Project will connect all NE States to the National Gas Grid through Barauni-Guwahati Gas Pipeline being laid by GAIL. From Guwahati, the pipeline will extend to Numaligarh, Dimapur, Kohima and Imphal in one direction; Shillong, Silchar, Aizawl and Agartala in the second direction and to Itanagar in the third direction. Gangtok will be connected from Siliguri from the gas pipeline of GAIL coming from Barauni to Guwahati.