The Industries and Commerce Department, Government of Assam has reviewed the progress under Indradhanush Gas Grid Pipeline and Barauni-Guwahati Gas Pipeline projects. The 729-km long pipeline project from Barauni in Bihar to Guwahati is being executed by GAIL (India) Limited whereas Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) is executing the 1,656-km North East Gas Grid, connecting it with the Barauni-Guwahati pipeline.
The government’s Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for North East aims to connect the eight north eastern states to the National Gas Grid through the Barauni-Guwahati Gas Pipeline as part of the Urja-Ganga scheme. At present, the land acquisition process for pipeline’s right of use is ongoing in all eight states. The target date for completion of the pipeline is April 2021.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had approved the viability gap funding to IGGL at 60 per cent of the estimated cost of Rs 92.65 billion for the North East Gas Grid. Besides, the Central government will provide Rs 55.59 billion as a grant to implement the project. The remaining Rs 37.06 billon will be funded by the promoters of the joint ventures of IGGL, namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, GAIL (India) Limited, Oil India Limited and Numaligarh Refinery Limited. The pipeline is expected to be completed by March 2024.