765kV line addition falls short of target in April-July 2021

 

The pace of addition of 765kV transmission lines slowed down in the first four months of FY22, with the actual achievement standing at only around 16 per cent of the planned target.

According to the latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the quantum of 765kV lines added in the first four months (April to July) of FY22 was 647 ckm, as against the planned target of 3,949 ckm.

The entire addition of 647 ckm came from the Central sector, mainly Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL). State transmission utilities and private sector companies achieved zero addition, in the face of planned targets of 902 ckm and 1271 ckm, respectively.

The performance of 400kV lines was relatively better, and that too thanks to PGCIL. The Central PSU added 804 ckm of 400kV lines, exceeding the planned addition of just 252 ckm. State utilities under-performed and so did the private sector. The overall addition of 400kV lines in the April-July period of FY22 was 991 ckm as against the planned 1,028 ckm – implying a shortfall of 3.6 per cent.

Also read: After A Long Lull, February 2021 Brings Cheer To 765kV Lines

Speaking of the 220kV class of transmission lines, the entire addition of 2,037 ckm came from state government utilities.  However, this was less than half of the planned target of 4655 ckm. [It may be noted that the planned target included 784 ckm of 220kV lines by Central PSUs.]

Aggregating all the voltage classes, addition of transmission lines in the first four months of FY22 stood at 3,675 ckm, way below the planned addition of 9,632 ckm.

For FY22, a target of 19,255 ckm of transmission lines (across a20kV, 400kV and 765kV) has been planned. This is substantially lower than the actual achievement of 57,575 ckm in FY21.