Bhatinda Srinagar Gas Pipeline Project to be completed by July 2014

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on 10 December 2012 informed that the 328-km-long Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar gas pipeline project is scheduled to be completed by July 2014 to draw gas from Gujarat to the State.

The progress on the proposed project was reviewed by Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah at a meeting of high-level officers in Jammu and an early start of work was emphasized by him. He stressed upon the need for fast tracking the project to ensure its timely completion.

The availability of gas in abundance has been a great challenge for the Government of Jammu so this step towards supply of gas to the consumers in the State through gas pipeline is going to be a revolutionary step as it will relieve the pressure on availability of domestic gas and will also help generate employment.

The gas pipeline will consist of 328-km-long main gas trunk from Bhatinda to Srinagar passing through Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama and Srinagar and there will be hundreds of sub-lines which will supply gas to the consumers at their houses.

The proposed gas pipeline project was already approved by Omar Abdullah during a meeting of State officers and the team of Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) led by its Chairman Lalit Mansingh at Srinagar.
The Chief Minister had directed PNGRB to start laying pipeline from both Srinagar and Bhatinda simultaneously so that gas is supplied to both the cities of Jammu and Srinagar at the same time.

The project possessed greater importance to the State in providing adequate domestic and commercial supply of gas to the consumers on cheaper rates besides creating huge employment for youth of the State.

The revenue and law department had already been directed by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to finalise the Draft Bill for Right of Use of land for laying of gas pipelines by the gas company in the State legislature for enactment as per the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.