Every time tensions flare up in West Asia, India holds its breath.
The reason is simple. A large share of the country’s oil and natural gas imports pass through the , a narrow waterway that has become one of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical hotspots. Any disruption there can send energy prices soaring and put pressure on India’s economy.
That is why a decades-old idea is suddenly back in the spotlight.
A proposed 2,000-kilometre deep-sea gas pipeline connecting Oman directly to Gujarat is once again under serious consideration. Supporters say it could transform India’s energy security. Critics say it could become one of the toughest engineering challenges ever attempted.
The project grabbed fresh attention after the BJP highlighted it in a recent post on X, calling it a “bold strike for energy independence”.
In its social media post, the BJP described the Oman-Gujarat Deep-Sea Gas Pipeline as a game-changing project that could bring natural gas directly to India while bypassing geopolitical risks.
The party said the proposed pipeline would stretch nearly 2,000 kilometres beneath the Arabian Sea at depths exceeding 3,000 metres, delivering reliable energy supplies to homes, fertiliser plants and industries.
The accompanying video described the project as a “direct energy lifeline” that would avoid tanker routes, conflict zones and disruptions linked to the .
The message was clear: as global energy markets become more unpredictable, India wants greater control over its own energy future.
The Strait of Hormuz is often called the world’s most important oil chokepoint.
A substantial share of India’s oil and liquefied natural gas imports passes through this narrow route between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
That .
When tensions escalated in the region earlier this year, LNG prices reportedly jumped from around $10-12 per MMBtu (metric million British thermal unit) to as high as $24-25 per MMBtu. Such price spikes can ripple through the economy, affecting fuel costs, inflation and government finances.
For policymakers, the lesson was simple: relying too heavily on one route carries risks.
The idea is not new.
Plans for a direct gas pipeline between Oman and India have been discussed since the early 1990s. But concerns over cost, technology and commercial viability repeatedly pushed the proposal to the sidelines.
What has changed now is the urgency.
India’s growing energy demand, combined with geopolitical uncertainty, has brought the proposal back to the forefront.
At the centre of the plan is the Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline — a roughly 2,000-kilometre underwater pipeline stretching from Oman to Gujarat.
The estimated cost? Around Rs 40,000 crore.
The most extraordinary aspect of the project is its depth.
The proposed pipeline could reach depths of around 3,000 metres below sea level.
To put that into perspective, that is deeper than many of the world’s existing subsea energy pipelines and close to the limits of what current engineering technology can comfortably achieve.
Building the pipeline would be difficult.
Maintaining it could be even harder.
A leak or rupture thousands of metres underwater would be extremely expensive and technically challenging to repair.
That is one reason why experts say the upcoming feasibility studies will be crucial.
Unlike many grand infrastructure proposals, this project has moved beyond the idea stage.
SAGE, the private consortium promoting the pipeline, has reportedly completed both technical and financial feasibility studies.
The consortium has also carried out seabed studies along the proposed route, spending around Rs 25 crore to understand underwater conditions.
According to the proposal, gas could be supplied under a 20-year contract, with transportation costs estimated at $2-2.25 per MMBtu.
The government has now asked companies like GAIL, and Indian Oil to prepare a detailed feasibility report based on the findings.
A positive assessment could pave the way for formal negotiations with Oman on pricing, financing and implementation.
While the vision is attractive, turning it into reality will not be easy.
Engineering at the Edge
Operating infrastructure nearly 3,000 metres below the ocean surface pushes the limits of modern engineering.
The project must prove that the pipeline can be safely monitored, maintained and repaired over decades.
Getting the Economics Right
An earlier version of the pipeline failed because it did not make commercial sense.
This time, long-term gas prices will be critical. Without competitive pricing, the economic case could weaken quickly.
Finding the Money
The estimated cost of Rs 40,000 crore is only a preliminary figure.
Large infrastructure projects, particularly those built underwater, are notorious for delays and cost overruns.
Questions remain over who will finance the project and how additional costs would be managed if expenses rise.
Supporters argue that the project is not merely about importing natural gas.
In the long run, the route could potentially evolve into a wider Gulf-India energy corridor, linking India with energy networks across Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
If that happens, the pipeline could become a strategic asset with significance extending far beyond energy supplies.
The idea of bypassing the Strait of Hormuz appeals to policymakers, businesses and energy planners alike.
Combined with India’s investments in solar power, ethanol blending, domestic gas production and renewable energy, the pipeline could strengthen the country’s long-term energy resilience.
But ambition alone will not build a pipeline beneath one of the deepest parts of the Arabian Sea.
The technical challenges are immense. The financial stakes are high. And the feasibility report will determine whether this long-discussed vision finally becomes reality.
For now, India’s underwater energy dream remains exactly that — a bold dream with the potential to reshape the country’s energy future.