JAMMU, Dec 5: The work has started on much talked about 175 kilometres long Gurdaspur-Jammu Tawi Natural gas pipeline project. The project is expected to supply domestic gas to Jammu households by 2026.Sharing an update on the progress through a post on X, Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh said “The 175 km Gurdaspur #Jammu Tawi natural gas pipeline Project has started, expected to provide domestic gas to households by 2026. Gas Authority of India (GAIL) is laying the pipeline alongside the Delhi -#Katra Expressway with work starting on sectionalizing Valves in # Kathua and #Hiranagar”.
Dr Jitendra Singh while talking to Excelsior later termed it a game changer project launched by Modi Government. “It is Modi Government’s initiative to bring ease of living for common citizens. With its functioning the common citizens have no longer to take cylinders on shoulders to get the cooking gas,” the Minister added.
District Development Commissioner, Kathua, Rakesh Minhas said that the work on the project has started and soon the people in Jammu will get gas supply. He said the UT Government has handed over the State land to GAIL while the private land has been acquired by the GAIL itself.
The GAIL is undertaking the pipeline construction along and across Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway with initial work already underway on sectionalized valves in Kathua and Hiranagar.
Officials said that the prestigious pipeline project involved developing essential infrastructure, including laying pipes, establishing stations and creating distribution networks.“As a cleaner fossil fuel compared to coal and oil, natural gas will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, benefitting the environment and public health,. The project aims to ensure an uninterrupted gas supply year round, regardless of weather or road conditions, they said.
The tentative route of the main trunk pipeline is Gurdaspur-Pathankot in Punjab, Kathua-Samba, Jammu City in J&K with the originating point at Gurdaspur and the termination point in Jammu city. The pipeline is designed to transport up to two million cubic meters per day, officials said.
They said the Gurdaspur-Jammu Pipeline is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting the natural gas requirements of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Once completed, the pipeline will transport environment friendly fuel to Jammu and, eventually to Kashmir valley, enhancing the region’s energy security.
Officials said the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has also taken steps to develop a gas pipeline from Jammu to Srinagar. This decision came after awarding the 175-kilometre Gurdaspur-Jammu Tawi Gas Pipeline Project to the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). The pipeline will originate from the Gurdaspur-Jammu Natural Gas Pipeline, an extension to Srinagar but can have some other vendor than GAIL, officials added.
Both of these gas pipeline lines are set to bolster the energy security of the region by enabling the transportation of natural gas from Gurdaspur in Punjab to Jammu and Kashmir. The pipeline’s construction involves the development of essential infrastructure, including laying pipelines, establishing pumping stations, and creating distribution networks.Being a cleaner fossil fuel than coal and oil, natural gas contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing air quality, resulting in positive impacts on the environment and public health, officials said. All these efforts will yield a year-round gas supply, irrespective of weather and road conditions. The Government has been initiating various measures to provide various sources of clean cooking and heating fuel, which include upgrading the electricity distribution network and now the gas pipeline, officials added.
The gas pipeline will take some years to lay before start carrying supply to Kashmir, but Kashmir will get connected to the rest of the country by train by early next year. Even this will provide a much-needed alternative to carry gas to the Kashmir Division, officials said.
Furthermore, the availability of natural gas through this pipeline diversifies the energy mix of the regions, reducing reliance on other energy sources and increasing energy resilience while lowering vulnerability to supply disruptions. By promoting the use of natural gas, the pipeline plays a key role in the growth of the natural gas market in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.This creates opportunities for gas-based industries, encourages investments, and fosters competition, leading to a more efficient and dynamic market. Introducing modern gas heating infrastructure in the Kashmir Valley could become the next significant development, akin to many advanced countries, officials said.
Such an initiative has the potential to greatly enhance tourism while simultaneously reducing reliance on fossil fuels like wood/coal and diesel for heating purposes, officials said.
This transformative move not only offers commercial benefits but also contributes to environmental preservation, aligning with commitments made under the Paris Agreement to curtail carbon emissions substantially, they added.
The Government’s focus on devising inventive methods to offer state-of-the-art amenities to the people of Jammu and Kashmir is of utmost importance. This essential project offers a dependable and cleaner energy source to meet the escalating energy demands of both areas, benefiting industries, businesses, and households. The utilisation of natural gas will lead to job creation, enhanced productivity, and an overall improvement in living standards. Overall, the Gurdaspur-Jammu-Srinagar Gas Pipeline serves as a crucial infrastructure project with far-reaching benefits, supporting energy security, economic development, environmental sustainability, and regional integration, officials said.
