India's longest intra-state IOC pipeline in TN

Chennai, Jun 26: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today dedicated to the nation Indian Oil Corporation's Chennai-Tiruchi -Madurai petroleum product pipeline, the longest in any state and called for its extension till the southern tip of Kanyakumari.

Speaking at the function, he agreed with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's view that the project would not be complete without extending it to Chennai-Pondicherry on the East Coast and to the Madurai-Kanyakumari sectors.

'Actually I should have raised it, but Mr Chidambaram has taken up the responsibility', he said, amid peals of laughter, and asked the latter to also take up the task of allotting funds for expansion.

This (Mr Chidambaram raising the State's need) showed the cordial relations between the Centre and the State. 'Both participating in a function, will help the State highlight its needs to the Centre.' Recalling former Chief Minister C N Annadurai's article in 1967 that he was for State autonomy without adopting a confrontationist stand with the Centre, Mr Karunanidhi said the State joining hands with the Centre would help meet the people's needs.

Mr Karunanidhi also urged Union Petroleum Miniser Murli Deora to take expeditious steps to implement the LNG terminal at Ennore Port, to which the Minister responded positively.

Earlier, welcoming the gathering, IOC Chairman Sarthak Behuria said the 683 km long pipeline, executed in a record one year at Rs 409 crore cost, marked a phenomenal shift in transportation of petroleum products, contributing significantly to conservation of environment. The project also included a branch line to Sankari and new marketing facilities at Tiruchirapalli, Madurai and Sankari.

Traversing through 11 districts, the state-of-the-art pipeline would carry diesel, petrol and kersonse from Manali in Chennai, negotiate 510 crossings across National and State Highways, Railways and waterways, and travel through the Coleroon and Cauvery river beds.

He said to meet LPG demand in the South and Tamil Nadu in particular, IOC would set up a modern LPG import facility at Ennore at Rs 200 crore cost. IOC would also expand the capacity of Chennai Petroleum Corporation to 11.2 million tonne along with a residue upradation facility, involving total investment of Rs 4000 crore.

'The IOC also has plans to expand its pipeline network in South India, by putting up another product pipeline from Chennai to Bangalore', Mr Behuri said.

Union Ministers T R Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran and G K Vasan also spoke on the occasion.

UNI