India’s gas growth story is no longer being written by massive trunk lines stretching across states. The actual expansion is happening through short, sharp, commercially driven micro-pipelines ranging from 3 km to 49 km. These links quietly connect LNG terminals, CBM blocks and industrial belts to the national grid, delivering gas where demand already exists.

This is now India’s real gas geography.

LNG Terminals Are Leading the Shift

Short-distance evacuation lines linked to LNG terminals are progressing faster than any other part of the network. Dahej’s 36 km expansion connector, the Jafrabad cluster’s mix of 3 km, 198 km and 170 km tie-ins, and the 8 km Karaikal link are enabling immediate gas flow to industrial customers. These lines deliver molecules now, without waiting for long trunk-line synchronisation.

CBM Connectivity Is Rising Through 6 to 49 km Pipelines

CBM production is becoming viable only because of a growing mesh of connectors tying fields into the Jagdishpur–Haldia–Bokaro–Dhamra corridor and southern coastal pipelines. The 6 km Jharia link, 9 km EPS-1 connector, 28.81 km Raniganj line and the 49.1 km Odalarevu–KVNPL system are finally giving CBM producers a path to market. Micro-pipelines are doing the essential job large eastern trunk lines have not finished.

Why These Pipelines Progress While Big Ones Stall

Every successful micro-pipeline connects a ready demand zone: petrochemicals, industrial clusters, LNG hubs, CBM belts and operational CGD networks. These customers can absorb gas immediately, making the economics straightforward. In contrast, long cross-state pipelines face extended right-of-way challenges and rely on demand that will develop years later.

The Most Important Expansion Is Happening Quietly

India’s pipeline tracker shows the real progress is in the 3 km, 6 km, 8 km, 9 km, 28.81 km, 36 km and 49.1 km links. These distances may appear small, but together they form a new micro-distribution spine that feeds industrial zones and city-gas pockets where consumption is already high.

A New Strategy Is Taking Shape

Instead of waiting for monolithic pipelines, developers are unlocking supply through precise, targeted, commercially viable connectors. The future network will grow not through grand 1,000 km announcements, but through dozens of micro-pipelines woven around LNG terminals and CBM fields.

India’s gas expansion today is being carried by these short-distance lines. They may be small, but they are doing the heavy lifting.