In a swift move to safeguard project schedule of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga natural gas pipeline to eastern India states, GAIL (India) Limited as the owner and operator of the prestigious project under execution has offloaded the pipe laying contract from M/s IL&FS due to poor project progress driven on account of acute financial crisis. The Bokaro – Durgapur section (124 km) is now re-tendered and awarded to three different contractors to expedite construction efforts for hooking up supply network to the fertilizer, city gas distribution and other industrial consumers. Meanwhile, in a separate pro-active measure taken earlier, the project consultant, M/s Engineers India Limited was replaced by M/s MECON for overseeing the project activities under this crucial stretch.
Post commencing supplies at Varanasi, the final leg of Phase-I (Phulpur-Patna section of approx. 585 Km length) of the 2660 km pipeline project is now closer to readiness and natural gas supply to the Bihar State capital Patna is expected to commence during the second fortnight of this month.
Shri B C Tripathi, Chairman & Managing Director, GAIL re-affirmed company’s commitment to ensuring completion of Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project, strictly within the envisaged project schedule. Accordingly, Phase 2 of this project beyond Dobhi (Gaya) towards Durgapur-Haldia & Bokaro- Ranchi-Angul- Dhamra (1900 Km) is slated for progressive completion by December 2020 whereas the 750 km pipeline from Barauni to Guwahati is expected to be operational by December 2021.
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