PM MODI TO DEDICATE TO THE NATION KEY OIL, GAS AND ROAD SECTOR PROJECTS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be dedicating to the nation key infrastructure projects in the oil and gas sector and road sector in West Bengal in a public function to be held in Haldia on 7 February. His Excellency, Governor of West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankar, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and other dignitaries are also invited to grace the event.

Prime Minister will be dedicating a 347 km long Dobhi-Durgapur natural gas pipeline. This pipeline is a part of ambitious Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project. Dobhi-Durgapur pipeline has been built at a cost of Rs. 2433 crore by GAIL. During the project stage, it generated 15 lakhs man-days of employment. The Dobhi-Durgapur pipeline project will revive HURL Sindri (Jharkhand) fertilizer plant, supply gas to Matix fertilizer plant at Durgapur and will supply gas to industrial, commercial and automobile sectors and city gas distribution across all major towns in these states, including cities of Purulia, Asansol and Durgapur of West Bengal.

Another important project to be dedicated by Prime Minister is the LPG import terminal built by Bharat Petroleum Corporation. The LPG import terminal will cater to the growing demand of LPG in eastern region will help realize the vision of PM Modi to provide clean cooking LPG to every household. BPCL has constructed this LPG import terminal at Haldia with an investment of Rs. 1100 Crore. The terminal will meet the requirement of LPG in West Bengal and other states in eastern and north-eastern India. It is noteworthy that after launch of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY), LPG penetration has witnessed a phenomenal growth in the entire country. West Bengal, along with other Eastern States has also witnessed similar growth in LPG consumption. LPG penetration in West Bengal, which was only 41.4% in April 2014 has increased to 99.5% as on date.

Hon’ble PM will also dedicate 4 Lane ROB-cum-Flyover at Ranichak, Haldia on NH 41.Haldia dock complex is the main gateway for import and export of cargo destined/originating from Eastern and North-Eastern part of country as well as land-locked countries like Nepal and Bhutan. This has been built at the cost of Rs 190 crore. The commissioning of this flyover will result in uninterrupted to and fro traffic from Kolaghat to Haldia Dock Complex and other surrounding areas. There will be a substantial saving in travel time and operating cost of heavy vehicles plying in and out of the port.

On the same occasion, Prime Minister would also lay the foundation stone of the second catalytic dewaxing unit at the Haldia Refinery of Indian Oil Corporation. This unit, with a capacity of 270 MMTPA is estimated to cost 1019 crores and will produce advanced Group III Lubes Oil Base Stock (LOBS), which will be first of its kind installation in India. Once commissioned, this will lead to import-substitution in the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Currently around 70% of LOBS requirement is being met through imports. With the commissioning of CIDW at Haldia Refinery, LOBS Production of the country will be enhanced and LOBS import dependency will reduce by around 8%. This project is expected to result in saving of foreign exchange to the tune of 185 million USD.

These projects to be inaugurated are in line with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Purvodaya of driving growth of eastern India. West Bengal is going to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Purvodaya vision which is being implemented in mission mode to bring the state, and eastern India overall, at par with other developed states of the country. These projects will create economic opportunities for the youth of West Bengal through direct and indirect employment generation.