Tractebel Engineering of Belgium has been appointed as the project management consultant by the company. The 475-km pipeline project, which will transport around 12m. cum/d gas, will be a vital link between the key gas markets of Maharashtra and Gujarat, and will be designed to accommodate bidirectional flow operation. The pipeline has provision of flow of gas from north to south, i.e. from Gujarat to Maharashtra, by connecting sources from Dahej, Hazira, and additional gas from fields at Gujarat, to the gas markets in Maharashtra. Alternatively, if required, the pipeline can be a link for the flow of gas in the reverse direction, from south to north, from gas sources such as Uran, Dabhol, and KG Basin in the south to the gas markets in Gujarat and northwards. Gail has said that Tractebel, after carrying out a detailed exercise on the cost advantages of longitudinal-seam submerged-arc-welded (LSAW) pipes for the project has concluded that Gail has saved $34.8 million by opting for LSAW pipes over helically-submerged-arc-welded (HSAW) pipes. “Based on these findings and owing to economic and technical superiority of LSAW pipes over HSAW pipes, Tractebel has recommended the use of LSAW pipes for the DUPL project”, the company said. The project schedule has been reduced to a 17-month timetable, from the earlier envisaged 33 months.