Finance Minister P Chidambaram hinted at granting infrastructure status on Friday to natural gas pipeline in the forthcoming budget, saying they were of equal importance as roads and railway tracks.

"Pipelines are as important as roads and railway tracks. We sould regard it just the way we regard railway tracks and roads," he said at a function to mark the doubling of capacity of Indian Oil Corporation's refinery in Panipat, Uttar Pradesh.

The government has granted roads and railways infrastructure status, entitling a ten-year tax holiday to the companies operating in these sectors.

Deora seeks core status for pipeline, E&P

"We will certainly take a look at the request of oil ministry for grant of infrastructure status," he said.

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