Marking an important milestone towards ‘One nation One gas grid’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (5 January) inaugurated the Kochi - Mangaluru gas pipeline via video conference.

Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Kerala, Union minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan also attended the event.

“This is an important day for India, especially for people of Karnataka and Kerala. India is focusing on gas-based economy and a lot of work is being done on 'One Nation, One Gas Grid'. The gas-based economy is also crucial for Atmanirbhar Bharat," the Prime Minister said at the event.

PM Modi also said that the national gas pipeline network will be doubled in next five to six years and CNG stations will be increased to 10,000 from the current 1,500.

Kochi-Mangaluru gas pipeline is part of the government's plan to connect Kerala and Karnataka to the national gas grid. It will help in uninterrupted supply of natural gas to Kerala and coastal Karnataka regions.

It will carry natural gas from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification Terminal at Kochi, Kerala to Mangaluru, Karnataka, while passing through Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts, reports News On AIR.

The pipeline also eliminates the need to transport the natural gas fuel through tankers, thus aiding in decreasing pollution and congestion on roads.

This 450 km long pipeline from Kerala’s Kochi to Mangaluru in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district has been built to transport 12 million metric standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) of natural gas per day and it is built at a cost of around Rs 3,000 crore by GAIL (India) Limited.

The government is aiming to achieve a gas based economy by increasing the share of natural gas in the country's energy consumption from present 6.3 per cent to 15 per cent.