Pipeline transport network is a new addition on the transportation map of India. Pipelines are most convenient, efficient and economical mode of transporting liquids like petroleum, petroleum products, natural gas, water, milk etc.
Image Source: lngworldnews.com
Even solid can also be transported through pipelines after converting them into slurry. The far inland location of refineries like Barauni, Mathura, Karnal and gas based fertiliser plants at Jagdishpur and other places could be thought of only because of pipelines. Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running cost is minimal. The first pipeline in India was laid in Assam to bring crude oil to Nunmati which was extended to Barauni in Bihar. It is 1167 km long. It was extended to Kanpur. The pipe line between Naharkatia and Nunmati became operative in 1962 and that between Nunmati and Barauni in 1964. Construction work on pipeline from Barauni to Kanpur and Haldia was completed in 1966. It also connects Siliguri of West Bengal. A1256 km. long pipeline has been laid from Salaya in Gujrat to Mathura refinery in order to supply crude oil. This pipeline has been extended to Karnal refinery to supply the crude oil. It has also been extended to Jullandhar and Bhatinda and to Koeli refinery in Gujarat. There is one more pipeline which connects Mumbai to Raichur and Gulbarga in Karnataka via Pune, thus serving the market in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Hajira-Bijaipur-Jagdishpur (HB J) pipeline has been constructed to transport gas. It connects Hazira in Gujarat to Jagadishpur in UP via Bijaipur in MP. This HBJ pipeline of 1730 km in length would supply gas to six fertiliser plants and two thermal power plants based on natural gas. Some fertiliser plants are at Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, and Auraiya, Aonla and Shahjahanpur in UP. It is being extended up to Delhi. So that enough gas is made available for producing electricity which is in much demand.
