Central Government Notifies Intention to Acquire Right of User in Land for Kandla-Gorakhpur LPG Pipeline Project in Gujarat

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a statutory notification on July 18, 2025, declaring the Central Government’s intention to acquire the right of user in specific lands within the state of Gujarat. This measure was taken under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, to facilitate the Kandla Gorakhpur LPG Pipeline Project. The project, implemented by IHB Limited, involves laying a pipeline for the transportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from the Dahej terminal to the Dumad terminal. The notification, published in the Gazette of India on July 21, 2025, identified several land parcels in the Vagra Tehsil of Bharuch District that are essential for the pipeline's route.

The legislation provided: “Whereas, it appears to the Central Government, that it is necessary in the public interest that for the transportation of the LPG a pipeline should be laid for implementing Kandla Gorakhpur LPG Pipeline Project, by IHB Limited from Dahej to Dumad Terminal, in the state of Gujarat.”

The acquisition process followed the procedural requirements of Section 3(1) of the 1962 Act, which empowers the executive to declare its intent to utilize sub surface land rights for energy infrastructure. The notification detailed specific survey and block numbers across the villages of Dahej, Kadodara, Janiadara, Pakhajan, and Pahaj. By acquiring the right of user (a legal provision allowing the government or a corporation to lay and maintain pipelines under private or public land without transferring full ownership), the government aims to expand the national LPG distribution network.

Under the statutory framework, any person with an interest in the described land was granted the right to submit objections in writing. These objections must be directed to the designated Competent Authority, Shri Avalabhai Khatarabhai Baria, within twenty one days from the date the notification was made available to the general public. This procedural safeguard ensures that landowners and affected parties can raise concerns regarding the proposed alignment or the impact on their property before the right of user is finalized.

The policy rationale behind this enactment is the enhancement of energy security and the efficient transport of fuel across regional boundaries, addressing the logistical limitations of road based LPG transport. The 1962 Act serves as the primary legal instrument for such infrastructure projects, providing a structured mechanism for land access while maintaining the underlying ownership of the landholders, subject to certain restrictions on permanent construction over the pipeline route. The notification specified the exact area in hectares, ares, and square meters for each affected block, ensuring statutory precision in the description of the land where the right of user is sought.

Keywords: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, LPG Pipeline, Right of User, IHB Limited, Gujarat Land Acquisition, Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act 1962, Bharuch District, Kandla-Gorakhpur Project

Geo Tags: India, Gujarat
District: Bharuch