J&K's Gas Grid Entry Hit by Pipeline Project Delays
The entry of Jammu and Kashmir into the National Gas Grid has hit a timeline challenge. The July 2026 deadline for completing the 160-km Gurdaspur-Jammu pipeline, which is crucial for connecting the UT with the grid, has already passed.
According to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on 'Supply and Distribution of Natural Gas, Challenges and Prospects', the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) had authorised GAIL India Limited to lay the pipeline in July 2023. However, there is no update on whether the project has been completed or made operational.
The report also states that bids were invited for laying a 325-km natural gas pipeline from Jammu to Srinagar in 2024, but there is no information on what happened after the bidding process was initiated. This creates uncertainty about the implementation status and timelines of the two projects.
The absence of clear details on these projects assumes added significance as Jammu and Kashmir has already been brought under the City Gas Distribution framework. The UT has been divided into two geographical areas, with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) authorised to cover the entire area of Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi, Samba, and Kathua districts by September 30, 2034.