Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Capacity Augmentation Project for Oil India Limited’s (OIL) Numaligarh-Siliguri Product Pipeline (NSPL) on March 13, 2026, in Guwahati. The project upgrades the pipeline capacity from 1.72 MMTPA to 5.5 MMTPA, supporting the Numaligarh Refinery expansion to 9.0 MMTPA under Hydrocarbon Vision 2030. The augmentation was completed cost-effectively, saving nearly ₹110 crore against the approved budget.
Prime Minister Inaugurates Key Energy Infrastructure
On March 13, 2026, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated the Capacity Augmentation Project of the Numaligarh-Siliguri Product Pipeline (NSPL), operated by Oil India Limited (OIL). The inauguration took place during a public event held in Guwahati.
Pipeline Capacity Enhancement Details
The NSPL is a cross-country, 654-km long, 406 mm (16-inch) diameter multi-product pipeline. Its operational capacity has been significantly upgraded from the original 1.72 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) to a new capacity of 5.5 MMTPA. This upgrade is crucial for supporting the planned expansion of the Numaligarh Refinery from 3.0 MMTPA to 9.0 MMTPA, aligning with the Government of India’s Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for the North-East.
Infrastructure Modernization and Cost Savings
The capacity enhancement was achieved through the upgradation of existing assets, including converting pigging stations (at Sekoni, Guwahati, Bongaigaon, and Madarihat) into Intermediate Pumping Stations. Furthermore, pumping facilities at the Numaligarh Dispatch Terminal and the Siliguri Receipt Terminal were augmented.
Implemented as a brownfield project, the augmentation was completed with an expenditure of approximately ₹750 crore, resulting in substantial savings against the approved cost of ₹860 crore. During the execution phase, the project generated significant employment, accounting for around 4.1-million-man hours across Assam and West Bengal over a period exceeding three years.
Strategic Importance
This completed project marks a major milestone in reinforcing petroleum product transportation infrastructure across the North-Eastern region, thereby enhancing India’s overall energy security.
Source: BSE
