| Piped natural gas for Jammu homes likely by year-end, project in final stage | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 14: Residents of Jammu and its adjoining areas are likely to receive cooking gas through piped connections in their homes within this year, as the ambitious Rs 237-crore Gurdaspur–Jammu Natural Gas Pipeline Project has entered its final phase and is expected to be completed next month.
The project, being executed by GAIL (India) Limited, is nearing completion, with nearly 90 per cent of the work already finished. Once commissioned, it will pave the way for the supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to households and commercial establishments and significantly enhance the availability of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles in the region. Reviewing the progress of the project, Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Rajesh Kumar Shavan, on Saturday inspected the ongoing works along with the City Gate Stations (CGSs) at Vijaypur and Bishnah.
During the inspection, Deputy General Manager (Construction), GAIL India Ltd, Kumar Rahul, briefed the Director on the technical aspects of the project, the current status of work, and the expected completion timeline. Officials informed him that only around 10 per cent of the work remains and the project is likely to be completed by next month.
Shavan stressed the importance of the project in strengthening Jammu's energy infrastructure and ensuring the future supply of clean and efficient natural gas to domestic consumers, commercial establishments and industries. He directed officials to maintain quality standards, adhere to safety protocols and ensure timely completion of the project.
The Director also held discussions with officials of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and asked them to closely monitor pending land acquisition cases and utility shifting works to facilitate the smooth execution of the remaining stretches of the “Pipeline-laying work in Kathua and Samba districts is almost complete, while work in Jammu district is expected to commence shortly. A total of nearly 78 kilometres of pipeline is being laid. The pipeline will terminate near Jammu Ring Road, from where the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network will be developed.”
According to officials, pipeline-laying work in Kathua and Samba districts is almost complete, while work in Jammu district is expected to commence shortly. A total of nearly 78 kilometres of pipeline is being laid, including 37 kilometres in Kathua and 38 kilometres in Samba, with the remaining stretch falling in Jammu district. The pipeline will terminate near Jammu Ring Road, from where the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network will be developed.
Despite delays caused by heavy rainfall last year, the project is now on track for completion. Once operational, it will connect Jammu and Kashmir to the national gas grid, promoting the use of cleaner fuel and reducing dependence on conventional energy sources.
Apart from supplying PNG to households, the project will ensure adequate availability of CNG for vehicles, offering a cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative to petrol and diesel. The initiative is expected to provide significant relief to vehicle owners and encourage greater adoption of CNG-powered transport in the region.
Officials said that Jammu city, along with Kathua and Samba, will be among the first beneficiaries of the project. Household PNG connections are expected to become available in Jammu before April next year.
A detailed survey for the city gas distribution network has already been completed in consultation with the city administration and Smart City Project authorities. Several locations have been identified for establishing gas gate stations, while the blueprint for laying the distribution network within Jammu city has been finalised and approved.
With the project nearing completion, Jammu is poised to join the growing list of Indian cities offering piped cooking gas to households, marking a major step towards cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable energy consumption in the region. |
|
