GSPL done with only route survey for Bhatinda-Jammu pipeline

Gujarat government firm GSPL has completed only route survey and feasibility report four years after the authorisation of laying a gas pipeline from Bhatinda in Punjab to Jammu/Srinagar, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today.
"A maximum period of 36 months from the date of issue of authorisation has been allowed for commissioning of natural gas pipeline," he said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
So far, Gujarat State Petronet Ltd (GSPL) has "completed the route survey and detailed feasibility report (DRF) and notified 460 km out of a total 720 km for acquisition of right of use (RoU)", he said.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) on July 7, 2011, had authorised GSPL, a subsidiary of the Gujarat government, to lay Bhatinda-Jammu-Srinagar natural gas pipeline to ensure natural gas supply for industrial, commercial and domestic use in Jammu and Kashmir.
Subsequently, PNGRB has transfered the authorisation in favour of GSPL India Gasnet Ltd - a consortium comprising of GSPL, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL), he said.
PNGRB is the competent authority for granting authorisation to entities to develop natural gas pipeline on common carrier or contract carrier basis.

It seeks bids from interested parties on transportation tariff and volume flow for the next 25 years. "PNGRB selects the entity which quotes the lowest transportation tariff and highest volume to be flowed over the next 25 yeas," he added.