With the launch of the gas pipeline, it will not only benefit the gas economy but also help in curbing air pollution by generating clearer fuel

Continuing the journey of developmental process across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the Kochi- Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline to the nation on January 5 via video conferencing.

The 450 km long pipeline built by the GAIL, is expected to amplify the gas economy by providing cheaper and better quality fuel for residential and industrial purposes.

With a transportation capacity of 12 Million Metric Standard Cubic Metres per day, it will carry natural gas from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification Terminal at Kochi (Kerala) to Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka), and passes through Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.

Built at a total cost of Rs 3000 crore, the pipeline will supply environment friendly and affordable fuel in the form of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to households and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to the transportation sector. Along with the creation of this pipeline, it had also generated over 12 lakh man-days of employment.

The laying of this pipeline was anticipated to be an engineering challenge as the route of the pipeline necessitated it to cross water bodies at more than 100 locations and it was done through a special technique called horizontal directional drilling method.