In 1987, GAIL (India) Limited commissioned the Hazira–Vijaipur–Jagdishpur (HVJ) pipeline, creating India’s first cross-country natural gas pipeline. Stretching 1,750 km from Gujarat to Uttar Pradesh, this landmark project signaled the dawn of a cleaner, more secure energy future for the nation.
Connecting India to a New Energy Era
The HVJ pipeline was more than just steel across the land—it connected industries, agriculture, and households to a reliable and eco-friendly fuel source. Initially designed to supply natural gas to fertilizer plants, power stations, and industrial consumers, it also became the foundation for cleaner urban energy solutions through city gas distribution networks.
This achievement marked a turning point in India’s energy landscape, ushering in a new era of clean fuel-led industrial and regional development. The success of HVJ laid the groundwork for expanding the country’s energy infrastructure to support sustainable growth.
Expanding the National Gas Grid
From this single pioneering line, GAIL has developed an extensive network of pipelines across the country. Today, it owns and operates 16,421 km of natural gas pipelines, forming the backbone of India’s National Gas Grid. The HVJ network itself has been expanded to over 3,400 km, with branches reaching multiple states and integrating with other major pipeline projects.
Building on this foundation, GAIL has executed transformative projects such as the Urja Ganga pipeline, which is bringing natural gas to eastern India, and the Mumbai–Nagpur–Jharsuguda pipeline, linking new regions to clean energy supplies.
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Driving Energy Security and Sustainability
GAIL’s pipeline infrastructure plays a critical role in ensuring India’s energy security while supporting its climate goals. By enabling a shift from coal and oil to cleaner natural gas, the company contributes significantly to reducing carbon emissions. The HVJ pipeline stands as a testament to the vision and capability required to deliver complex, large-scale energy projects that transform the nation’s economic landscape.
About GAIL (India) Limited
GAIL (India) Limited is the country’s largest state-owned natural gas processing and distribution company. Headquartered in New Delhi, GAIL operates a diversified portfolio encompassing natural gas, petrochemicals, liquefied petroleum gas transmission, city gas distribution, and renewable energy. As a Maharatna PSU, GAIL continues to lead India’s transition towards a gas-based economy through strategic infrastructure expansion and sustainable energy initiatives.
