From Oman to Gujarat: India Advances Rs 40,000 Cr Undersea Gas Pipeline Under Arabian Sea

India is pushing forward with one of the most ambitious energy infrastructure proposals in its history, a 2,000-kilometre deepwater gas pipeline running beneath the Arabian Sea from Oman's coast to Gujarat . The project, discussed for decades but repeatedly shelved, has returned to the spotlight with renewed urgency following concerns over the vulnerability of India's energy supplies to geopolitical disruptions.

The Petroleum Ministry has tasked state-run energy companies GAIL , Engineers India Limited (EIL), and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) with preparing a detailed feasibility report. The study will build on an earlier pre-feasibility assessment conducted by South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE), a New Delhi-based consortium that originally proposed the project. If the report is favourable, it could pave the way for formal negotiations between India and Oman on gas supplies, financing, and execution.

The renewed interest comes after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz highlighted India's dependence on the crucial maritime route. The crisis underscored the risks associated with relying heavily on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), much of which passes through the narrow waterway.

The proposed Middle East-India Deep-water Pipeline (MEIDP) would stretch roughly 2,000 kilometres beneath the Arabian Sea, directly connecting Oman with Gujarat. The route is designed to avoid geopolitically sensitive regions and could potentially provide India access to natural gas supplies from Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Qatar .

The project is estimated to cost around Rs 40,000 crore and could take between five and seven years to complete. The pipeline would be laid at depths of up to 3,450 metres , making it one of the deepest undersea gas pipelines ever attempted. SAGE has already completed a test pipeline segment along the proposed route to assess seabed conditions.

India's natural gas demand is expected to rise significantly by 2030 , and the proposed pipeline could supply around 31 million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) of gas. Supporters argue that pipeline imports would offer greater price stability and supply security compared with volatile spot LNG markets.

However, significant challenges remain. Critics point to the immense engineering complexity , the high construction cost of nearly Rs 40,000 crore , and the political and commercial hurdles that have derailed previous cross-border pipeline projects. For now, the MEIDP remains at the feasibility stage. Whether it ultimately becomes a landmark energy corridor or joins the list of unrealised pipeline ambitions will depend on decisions taken in the coming months.