Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the India-Bangladesh Friendship gas Pipeline through video-conferencing on Saturday i.e March 18.
Giving information, the Prime Minister’s Office said that this is the first cross-border energy pipeline between India and Bangladesh built at an estimated cost of Rs 377 crore, of which the Bangladesh portion of the pipeline, built at an estimated cost of Rs 285 crore, is being borne by the Government of India under grant-in-aid.
This pipeline project will enable high speed diesel transportation between the two countries. The pipeline has a capacity to transport 1 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of high-speed diesel (HSD).
This will initially supply high speed diesel to seven districts of northern Bangladesh.
The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Project was announced in 2010. Diesel will be supplied from India to Bangladesh through this 1,680 km long pipeline. The pipeline has been laid from Siliguri in West Bengal to Parbatipur in northern Bangladesh.
The pipeline has a capacity of 1 million metric tons per year which will supply fuel to Bangladesh’s power plants and other industries.
The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline is expected to bring many benefits to both the countries. For India, the pipeline will provide an opportunity to expand its market for petroleum products while Bangladesh will get a reliable and low-cost fuel.
The pipeline is also expected to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and promote regional cooperation.
However, the project has faced several challenges including land acquisition issues and concerns about the safety and security of the pipeline.
In addition there have been protests from environmental activists and local communities who are concerned about the potential impact of the pipeline on the environment and their livelihoods.
But despite all these the project has been completed.
