Kochi: The gas pipeline project to carry liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Petronet’s Puthuvypin terminal seems to have got a fresh lease of life with GAIL Ltd deciding to go full throttle, floating new tenders and re-opening the offices once closed down.
The public sector gas marketing company has floated the tender to complete the partly-done work in 31 km for which bids will be opened on July 3.
It is now finalising the process inviting tenders for the completion of the 504-km project across the seven districts in the state.
GAIL sources said the state government, which showed signs of flagging in the face of protests from land owners in several districts when surveying resumed early this month, had assured it of support for the project.
“We have no idea of the all-party meeting the government is planning to call, but the government has assured us all the help to go ahead with the project,” they said. “Hence our decision to float tender for the entire stretch.” The work will begin in October or November when the monsoon is over.
Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson confirmed the development. “We had a meeting in Kochi in which petroleum ministry officials, headed by petroleum secretary, and GAIL officials, including its chairman and managing director, attended,” he said. “We assured them the government will not waver in supporting the project.”
Officials have completed the survey process in Ernakulam district despite protests. “We had completed the work in three villages in Ernakulam district in the last round,” GAIL sources said. “Now, we have completed survey in Alangad and Karivelloor villages also,” they said.
GAIL had initially taken up work in 60 km. Of this, it has already completed the work in 29 km, while part of the welding is done in 19 km.
The company is also in the process of opening its district offices. “We had closed down the offices in the districts after cancelling the contracts last year. Now we are working overtime to ensure that the district offices are functional at the earliest,” sources said.
