Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) in a very recent order has granted separate transmission licence to “NRSS XXIX Transmission Ltd” to develop a transmission scheme under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) route.
The transmission scheme in question is “Augmentation of transformation capacity at Amargarh GIS substation by 1×315 MVA, 400/220kV ICT (3rd)” and will take shape in UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
Expected to cost Rs.82.04 crore, the project has an envisaged implementation timeframe of 21 months.
NRSS XXIX Transmission Ltd, earlier owned by Sterlite Power and now by India Grid Trust (IndiGrid), already has an interstate transmission licence associated with the original project Northern Region System Strengthening Scheme – XXIX that was fully commissioned in August 2018.
The original NRSS XXIX project was developed by Sterlite Power under the BOOM modality with a 35-year concession period, and was awarded under the TBCB route. It may be mentioned that IndiGrid acquired NRSS XXIX Transmission Ltd from Sterlite Power in June 2019.
The NRSS XXIX project involved, among others, the following elements:
- 400kV double-circuit Jullandhar-Samba line (270 ckm)
- LILO of both circuits of 400kV double-circuit Uri-Wagoora line at Amargarh
- 400kV double-circuit Uri-Wagoora line (547 ckm)
- 7×105 MVA, 400/220kV GIS substation at Amargarh
The project, estimated to cost over Rs.2,600 crore, aimed at improving power supply to the Kashmir Valley region.
Clearance of ISTS schemes
The RTM component of NRSS XXIX, presently under discussion, was cleared by Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL). It may be recalled that CTUIL is empowered to clear interstate transmission schemes whose cost is less than Rs.100 crore. The clearance also entails deciding the mode of implementation – whether TBCB or RTM. For projects costing between Rs.100 crore and Rs.500 crore, National Committee on Transmission (NCT) is the clearing authority. Schemes costing above Rs.500 crore are recommended by NCT to the Union power ministry, for final clearance.
Also read: CERC Grants Transmission Licence To Three ISTS Schemes
Featured photograph shows an element of NRSS XXIX Transmission Ltd. (Photo: IndiGrid)
