India bets ₹7,000 crore on a bigger LPG lifeline
The Oil and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has approved plans to develop 1,800 kilometers of new liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipelines, marking a 23.5% expansion of India's common-carrier LPG pipeline network. The three strategically important projects in Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Goa will bring the total network from approximately 7,700 kilometers to nearly 9,500 kilometers.
Developed by state-owned GAIL (India) Ltd, the expansion aims to enhance the resilience of LPG supply and reduce dependence on road transport. India currently relies heavily on imported LPG, which is transported by large tankers to inland consumption centers. The new pipeline infrastructure is expected to improve efficiency, reliability, and safety of LPG delivery, while also cutting logistics costs, traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
The three newly authorized projects include a 556-kilometer Cherlapally (Telangana) to Nagpur (Maharashtra) line, a 611-kilometer Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) to Sitarganj (Uttarakhand) pipeline, and a 633-kilometer Shikrapur (Maharashtra) to Goa and Hubli (Karnataka) line. These projects follow the earlier approval of the 2,757-kilometer Kandla-Gorakhpur LPG pipeline, the longest in the country.
Pipeline transport is considered a safer and more economical method for moving LPG long distances compared to road transport. It also mitigates the risks associated with the movement of hazardous fuel by tankers. As India relies on imported LPG, which is primarily imported at coastal locations, a nationwide pipeline network can provide an alternative supply chain and maintain flows during disruptions, emergencies, or periods of high demand.
The pipelines can also serve as line-pack storage, providing an additional buffer during short-term supply disruptions.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
