Gas utility company GAIL India has commenced pipeline construction work in West Bengal for providing fuel supply to Matix Fertilizers in Durgapur.

The project is part of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga pipeline project. The Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) project is being executed on a fast track basis.

The gas pipeline project will pass through eight districts in West Bengal, namely, Puruliya, Bankura, Burdwan, Nadia, Hooghly, Howrah, East Medinapur and 24 North Paragana.

The project will entail an investment of Rs 2,700 crore. The project activities for execution of the pipeline in West Bengal upto Haldia and City Gas Distribution in Kolkata are expected to begin soon.

The entire JHBDPL project stretching 2,655 km is targeted to be completed by the end of 2020.

Phase-I of the project, which consists of a pipeline network from Phulpur–Dobhi with spurlines to Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Patna and Barauni, is scheduled to be completed by December 2018.

Phase-II of the project beyond Dobhi in Gaya district towards Durgapur Haldia and Bokaro–Ranchi and Angul–Dhamra is scheduled to be completed by December 2020.