Indian Oil Corp will invest ₹2,449 crore to build and operate a 424.65-kilometre natural gas pipeline linking Kochi in Kerala with Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, the company said on Monday. The project is intended to expand gas infrastructure and improve energy connectivity across southern India.
The pipeline will pass through Kochi, Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi, according to the company. It will have an overall capacity of 6.84 million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD), including a common carrier capacity of 1.71 MMSCMD.
The investment comes as India seeks to expand its natural gas network and increase the share of gas in its energy mix. The company said the project forms part of the broader push to improve connectivity and support the use of cleaner fuel alternatives.
A common carrier capacity allows capacity on a gas pipeline to be made available for use beyond the owner’s own requirements, subject to the applicable framework. For the proposed pipeline, this capacity will account for 1.71 MMSCMD of the total 6.84 MMSCMD capacity stated by Indian Oil.
The route will connect Kochi and Thoothukudi, two important coastal industrial locations, while passing through Kanyakumari. The company’s announcement did not provide a construction schedule, commissioning date, project financing structure beyond the stated investment, or details of the consumers expected to use the pipeline.
Indian Oil’s announcement also did not specify the number of districts, industrial clusters or urban areas that would receive direct connections from the project. The available information establishes the planned route, capacity and investment, but further project details will depend on subsequent company or regulatory disclosures.
The proposed pipeline adds to India’s effort to develop energy infrastructure that can move natural gas between production, import and consumption centres. Its stated common carrier capacity also indicates that a portion of the system is planned for shared access rather than exclusive use by Indian Oil.
The company has said it will build and operate the pipeline. The next milestones, including construction commencement, implementation timelines and commissioning plans, were not specified in the announcement reported by The Hindu BusinessLine.
