In a swift move to safeguard project schedule of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga natural gas pipeline to eastern India states, GAIL India as the owner and operator of the 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 kms) is now re-tendered and awarded to three different contractors to expedite construction efforts for hooking up supply network to the fertiliser, city gas distribution. 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 approximately 585 km length) of the 2660 km pipeline project is now closer to readiness and natural gas supply to Patna is expected to commence soon. B C Tripathi, Chairman and Managing Director, GAIL re-affirmed company’s commitment to ensure completion of Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project, strictly within envisaged project schedule. Accordingly, Phase 2 of this project beyond Dobhi (Gaya) towards Durgapur-Haldia and Bokaro- Ranchi-Angul- Dhamra (1900 Km) is slated for progressive completion by December 2020 .
