Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Friday announced that the state-run Gail (India) Ltd would invest Rs 6,000 crore in liquefied natural gas distribution network and power project in the state.
Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Ms Jayalalithaa said Gail and the Tamil Nadu industrial development corporation (Tidco) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to lay natural gas pipeline network.
“Gail has commenced the construction of infrastructure for laying the pipeline between Kochi and Bengaluru.
The 310 km pipeline, connecting the two cities, will pass through Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts in the state.
It would be able to supply gas through these pipelines to the nearby industrial units, vehicles and urban households. The project will be executed at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore,” she said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said a project to set up floating storage degasification unit would be established by Gail at an investment of Rs 2,500 crore.
Through the Kochi-Bengaluru gas pipeline connectivity, 500 MW of power would be available under the first phase, she said, adding, Rs 2,000 crore investment would be made for this purpose.
The chief minister said Gail India and Tidco would establish a joint venture company for generating the power. “In the coming five years, this project would be expanded, attracting `10,000 crore worth of investments,” she said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said her government would create new production zones in the state for upgrading infrastructure facilities in industrial areas.
In the first phase, production zones would be established in Thoothukudi, Krishnagiri and Vellore districts, she said, adding that a special purpose vehicle would be created for setting up these parks.
Recalling her earlier announcement that roads connecting Ennore Port with Oragadam industrial belt would be upgraded, she said a hub would be set up on 1,000 acres near Oragadam.
As part of upgrading the state’s industrial parks, Ms Jayalalithaa said an ‘industrial construction consolidated fund’ would be created with an investment of `100 crore.