GAIL (India) has offloaded the pipeline laying contract from Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) due to poor project progress driven on account of acute financial crisis.

The Bokaro-Durgapur section (124 km) is now re-tendered and awarded to three different contractors to expedite construction efforts for hooking up supply network to the fertilizer, city gas distribution and other industrial consumers.

Meanwhile, in a separate measure taken earlier, the project consultant Engineers India was replaced by MECON for overseeing the project activities under this crucial stretch.

Post commencing supplies at Varanasi, the final leg of Phase-I (Phulpur-Patna section of approx 585 km length) of the 2,660 km pipeline project is now closer to readiness and natural gas supply to Patna is expected to commence in February 2019.

Accordingly, Phase-II of this project beyond Dobhi (Gaya) towards Durgapur-Haldia & Bokaro-Ranchi-Angul-Dhamra (1,900 km) is slated for progressive completion by December 2020 whereas the 750 km pipeline from Barauni to Guwahati is expected to be operational by December 2021 .