NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the 450-km natural gas pipeline from Kochi to Mangaluru.
Dedicating the pipeline to the nation, PM said: "This is an important day for India, especially for the people of Karnataka and Kerala."
He also said that the government plans to double the pipeline network in the next 5 to 6 years and increase the number of CNG stations from 1,500 to 10,000.
Built at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore, the pipeline will facilitate convenient and environment friendly piped natural gas (PNG) to households and commercial units.
The pipeline was laid using a special technique called horizontal directional drilling method. Its construction created over 12 lakh man-days of employment.
"India is focusing on gas-based economy and lot of work is being done on 'One Nation, One Gas Grid'. The gas-based economy is also crucial for Atmanirbhar Bharat," PM Modi said.
He further noted that the project will enhance the livelihood of millions of people in both the states. It will also reduce the cost to the poor, middle class and entrepreneurs.
The 450 km long pipeline has been built by GAIL (India) Ltd. It has a transportation capacity of 12 Million Metric Standard Cubic Metres per day and will carry natural gas from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) Regasification Terminal at Kochi (Kerala) to Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka), while passing through Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
It will also supply natural gas to commercial and industrial units across the districts along the pipeline. Consumption of cleaner fuel will help in improving air quality by curbing air pollution.
(With agency inputs)