India, Russia May Discuss Plans for a Gas Pipeline

India and Russia are likely to discuss idea of a gas pipeline during Indian Prime Manmohan Singh’s visit to Russia this week, with New Delhi agreeing to set up joint study group, reported business daily Financial Express.

The pipeline project would run through troubled and politically unstable areas, but sources told the newspaper that the fast rate of progress on the TAPI pipeline is a good example to follow.

The idea is to have a direct pipeline from Russia to India run parallel to TAPI gas pipeline from a junction point and build in similar economic advantages for countries through which the pipeline would pass, Financial Express said.

Although there is a certain element of scepticism in certain government quarters about this idea, sources said the broader economic logic and immense benefits to energy-starved India is what makes it worth exploring at this juncture.

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