Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the Kochi-Mangalore Natural Gas Pipeline to the nation through video conferencing today. The event proves to be a major milestone in the creation of the ‘One Nation One Gas Grid’. “This is a future plan that will have a positive impact on many people,” Prime Minister Modi said.
It will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister at 11 am. Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was accompanied by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Wala, Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
According to the PMO, the 450 km long pipeline was built by Gale (India) Limited. It has a capacity of 12 million metric standard cubic meters per day and transports natural gas from the liquefied natural gas (LNG) control terminal. It will travel from Kochi (Kerala) to Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Ko Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts to Mangalore (Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka).
The total cost of the project is around Rs 3,000 crore and its construction has employed more than 12 lakh people. Pipeline laying was an engineering challenge as it was done through a special technique known as horizontal drilling. The pipeline will supply eco-friendly and inexpensive fuel to the transportation sector in the form of piped natural gas (PNG) to homes and compressed natural gas (CNG). It will supply natural gas to commercial and industrial units in districts along the pipeline. Consuming clean fuels can help improve air quality by preventing air pollution.
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