Recently, PM Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the Kochi-Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline, said the Centre is planning to invest crores of rupees in the oil and gas sector in this decade.

He said that the pipeline will be a major driver of development in both Kerala and Karnataka,  and added that the nation is focusing on building a gas-based economy. He even said that the concept of ‘One Nation, One Gas Grid’ is crucial for an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. Though the concept is not new -- the first inter-state project was commissioned in 1987 -- the Centre's renewed interest to push CNG is significant. BusinessLine's M Ramesh explains. Listen in.