The partners of the so-called TAPI pipeline also committed to help Afghanistan become an energy bridge in the region. India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee appealed to member countries to resolve all disputes pertaining to the project so work can be complete on time. "Work will be accelerated on the TAPI gas pipeline, to develop a technically- and commercially-viable project," a spokesman said. India's federal Cabinet, in its meeting on 19 May, gave its formal approval for India to join the pipeline project, though it had not formally been invited to become a part of the US- and Asian Development Bank-backed project. India also suggested that a working group on electricity, trade, and energy development for TAPI be formed and the meeting of the group be held regularly so progress on the project can be monitored. The other three members of the project agreed to the suggestion. "The pipeline project has the potential to meet natural gas requirements of the region, contributing to stability in South Asia," said Jayanto Roychowdhury, a senior energy analyst. India has asked Pakistan for transit facility as a part of the strategy for the development of Afghanistan. Initially, New Delhi expressed concern over the security of the pipeline, as half of it would pass through restive parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Following assurances from the member countries and the United States, however, India decided to join the joint venture. "The US has also been pushing for the development of closer ties between Central Asia and South Asia and has supported the TAPI project as opposed to the Iran-Pakistan-India has pipeline," said Rangin Dadfar Sapanta, foreign minister of Afghanistan, who accompanied Mr Karzai to the conference. The ADB, the major sponsor of the project, has already allocated $1.5 million for a feasibility study for the 1260-km pipeline, which was completed in June, 2003. Work on the project did not start, however, as there were doubts over its commercial feasibility; it is reported that these differences have now been resolved. "India is all set to join the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) gas pipeline project," said Dinsha Patel, junior Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, who participated in two meetings of the steering committee of TAP before it became TAPI. "India, which is looking for alternative sources of gas, would participate in the TAP as a partner in the project." Although TAPI is not being considered as an alternative to the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, it would be easier to implement as it has the support of ADB. Earlier this year, in mid-February, TAP's steering committee gave India three months to submit a formal request to join the $3.3-billion project, a process made mandatory by the ADB. TAPI is expected to transport 100m cum/d of gas, of which India's share will be 60m cum/d. The Indian Cabinet has now authorized the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to submit a formal request to join the project to the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan, a process facilitated by the ADB. The proposed pipeline would stretch from the Dauletabad field nearby the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan border in SE Turkmenistan, to Multan, in Pakistan, and then onwards to India.