The quantum of transmission lines added during the April-November period of FY24 has met only 64 per cent of the planned addition.
According to latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a total of 7,844 ckm of transmission lines (of 220kV or above) were added during the first eight months (April to November) of FY24. This was 64 per cent of the total planned addition of 12,236 ckm.
Most of the shortfall in the overall performance came from state government utilities. This ownership group added 3,830 ckm of lines in the period under study that was just 52 per cent of the targeted 7,352 ckm. With target achievement of over 80 per cent each, the Central government sector and the private sector did much better. (See table).
In terms of voltage class, the best performance came from the 765kV category where the target of 1,672 ckm was nearly met, with actual addition standing at 1,660 ckm. It is interesting to note that this entire addition of 1,660 ckm came from the private sector, and that too by Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (erstwhile Adani Transmission Ltd) alone. AESL commissioned four 765kV interstate lines, some associated with the company’s ISTS-TBCB project housed under “Warora Kurnool Transmission Ltd”. This project was fully commissioned in October 2023.
Addition of 400kV lines, at 2,731 ckm, was barely half of the targeted 5,463 ckm. Within the 400kV class, the shortfall came from state government and private sector entities. State government utilities could add only 506 ckm of 400kV lines as against the planned addition of 2,249 ckm, implying a target achievement of barely 22 per cent.
Incidentally, over 60 per cent of the 400kV line addition came from the 1,102-ckm multi-circuit line from Bikaner-II Pooling Station to Khetri, commissioned by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd in June 2023. This transmission element was part of the ISTS-TBCB scheme developed by “Powergrid Bikaner Transmission System Ltd” and fully commissioned in July 2023.
No HVDC lines have been envisaged for commissioning in FY24, as was the case with FY23 as well.
For the full year FY24 (April to March), the target for transmission line addition, covering all voltages (above and including 220kV), is 16,602 ckm as against the actual addition of 14,625 ckm in FY23.
Also read: Transmission Line Addition Falls 22 Per Cent In H1 Of FY24
Featured photograph is for representation only.
