The Mumbai-Manmad pipeline link will reduce tanker traffic on the Mumbai-Agra national highway and facilitate delivery of petrol, kerosene and diesel.

About 800 tankers are expected to visit the Panewadi project daily to fill their tanks for transportation in the state and upcountry destinations.

The site in-charge of the project, senior manager, BPCL, P P Mandal, told The Indian Express that the project is ready for commencement and regular flow of oil products will begin next week, ``hopefully'' from Monday.

He said the required infrastructure is in place and the pipeline from Mumbai to the Panewadi site near Manmad, had been tested successfully. The project, programmed on the lines of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited's pipeline from Mumbai to Pune, wassanctioned in 1994 and construction commenced in 1996 on about 225 acres of land at Panewadi near Manmad. The project acquired land from 45 persons and 28 of the project affected have been recruited at the site, apart from being given monetary compensation.

A four-foot diameter pipeline has been laid from the Trombay refineries to Panewadi, via Thane, Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Washala, Shinde, Niphad, Nandur Dam and Manmad. About 436 million tonnes of petroleum products are expected to be pumped through the pipeline per annum. A pumping station has been set up in Kasara ghat and optical fibre cables laid to detect leaks. At the Panewadi site, three tanks each for petrol, kerosene and diesel have been built. Two more tanks have been built as a standby arrangement. The project includes a separate railway siding capable to accommodate a 170-wagon rake.