GAIL in talks to lay natural gas pipeline from Mumbai to Nagpur

The Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), India’s largest government-owned natural gas processing and distribution company, has shown interest in laying a natural gas pipeline between Mumbai and Nagpur on the proposed 710-km-long Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway.

Laying a pipeline between Mumbai and Nagpur would work in favour of the proposed industrial, agricultural and logistical hubs that are to run along the Expressway, which would require natural gas consisting primarily of methane and petroleum. Currently, transportation of natural gas from one part of the state to another is fraught with difficulties, as one incurs heavy expenditure on transportation.

The proposal was discussed between the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the implementing agency of the project, and GAIL officials on Thursday. The latter are working on the alignment of the Expressway and are going to prepare a feasibility report for laying the natural gas pipeline between the financial capital and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s hometown.

“There were concrete discussions with GAIL officials who have asked for details on the project, which includes alignment of the Expressway, and the detailed project report,” said a MSRDC official, not wishing to be named.

The official added, “However, as we are in the process of process of preparing the DPR, we have asked them to give us two months to get back with the report.”

A senior official from the zonal office of GAIL in Navi Mumbai confirmed that it is keen on laying the natural gas pipeline on the proposed Expressway, but he did not want to be named, citing the development being at a very premature stage.

According to MSRDC officials, natural gas pipelines would mainly carry methane for industries and hydrogen sulphide, which can be used in fields for decomposing plants. It could also help fuel pumps along the corridor, as natural gas is also a type of fossil fuel like petroleum, and as a source of energy for heating and generation of electricity.

The state is planning to create runways for emergency landing of aeroplanes and install solar panels for electricity generation. It also plans to set up CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi networks and industrial, educational and logistical hubs on the Expressway.