Oil and gas pipeline projects may be granted infrastructure sector status in the forthcoming budget.

Speaking at the doubling of IOC's Paniopat refinery, he said, "Pipelines are as important as roads and railway tracks. We should regard it just the way we regard railway tracks and roads."

Road and the railway projects have already been granted infrastructure status, which entitles a ten-year tax holiday to the companies operating in these sectors. He said that his ministry would look into the oil ministry's suggestion to grant gas pipelines a similar status to spur investment in the sector.

Petroleum minister Murli Deora has sought tax rationalisation on petroleum products and infrastructure status to oil and gas exploration business as well as pipelines to encourage the sector.