OAO Stroytransgaz, a unit of Russian natural-gas company OAO Gazprom, finished building a pipeline in India that will ship fuel across the world's second-most populous nation.

Reliance Industries Ltd., India's biggest company, commissioned two sections of the 1,386-kilometer (866-mile) pipeline, Moscow-based Stroytransgaz said in an e-mailed statement today.

The stretches link a gas-processing terminal at the town of Kakinada on the eastern coast, crossing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat before ending at the western port town of Bharuch.

``The East-West pipeline will supply natural gas to the rapidly developing central, western and northern states in India,'' Stroytransgaz said. ``The pipeline is being prepared for filling with gas.''

Reliance, Oil & Natural Gas Corp. and BG Group Plc are investing billions of dollars to explore in India, which faces a shortage of gas. Domestic production meets half the demand of 7.86 billion cubic feet a day.

Stroytransgaz valued the Indian pipeline contract at $110 million after securing it in August 2006.