Benefits of TAPI Gas Pipeline to Fazilka, Punjab The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today that the on 13th December 2015, the Ground Breaking ceremony to start the work on the Turkmen leg of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline was held at Mary, Turkmenistan. Earlier in November 2014, the Pipeline Consortium, TAPI Pipeline Company Limited (TPCL) was incorporated in Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency. The Share Holders Agreement of TPCL was also signed on 13th December 2015. The shareholding percentage in the TPCL would be Turkmenistan 85%, India 5%, Pakistan 5% and Afghanistan 5%. With the Ground Breaking Ceremony on 13th December, 2015 work has begun on the Turkmen leg of the pipeline. The technical study of the TAPI project has estimated an overall project duration of 6? years from the start of the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) process till handing over of the pipeline for commercial operation. The Pipeline will enter India at Fazilka, Punjab. The gas available from the project is expected to boost development of industrial and commercial activities in Fazilka district, including start of CNG and City gas distribution and associated employment generation. RG/Rk
