An interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme for evacuation of power from the upcoming 850-MW Ratle hydropower project in UT of Jammu & Kashmir has been planned.
Estimated to cost Rs.1,402 crore, the scheme was approved at a recent meeting of the Northern Region Power Committee (NRPC) and now awaits clearance from the National Committee on Transmission (NCT) that will also deliberate on the mode of implementation – whether TBCB (tariff-based competitive bidding) or RTM (regulated tariff mechanism).
As the scheme termed as “Transmission scheme for evacuation of power from Ratle HEP (850 MW)” is envisaged to cost over Rs.1,000 crore, it will need final clearance from the Union power ministry.
The scheme is envisaged for completion by September 30, 2026, to coincide with the progressive commissioning schedule of the under-construction Ratle hydropower project.
The Ratle project is being implemented by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (RHPCL), a 51:49 joint venture between NHPC Ltd and Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation Ltd, formed in June 2021. A run-of-river scheme on River Chenab, the project is taking shape in Kishtwar district of UT of J&K.
The interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme for Ratle HEP evacuation will essentially be a combination of transmission lines (including LILOs), switching equipment and bay upgrade works. Immediate connectivity will be established with the 400/132kV Kishtwar substation that is coming up under an ISTS-TBCB scheme of Kishtwar Transmission Ltd (a subsidiary of Sterlite Power), through additional line bays. Downstream connectivity will be provided by existing 400/220kV ISTS substations like Kishenpur, Samba and Jalandhar, of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).
The main transmission line elements of the Ratle HEP evacuation scheme include:
- Reconductoring of 400kV Kishenpur-Kishtwar section with twin HTLS (120 km)
- 400kV double-circuit Kishenpur-Samba line (36 km)
- 400kV double-circuit Samba-Jalandhar line (145 km)
It may be mentioned that the under-construction 400/132kV Kishtwar substation is meant for power evacuation associated with the upcoming 1,000-mw Pakal Dul hydropower project, also in Kishtwar district of UT of J&K. This hydropower project is being developed by another joint venture between NHPC Ltd and Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation Ltd, named Chenab Valley Power Projects (P) Ltd. The 400/132kV Kishtwar GIS substation is thus seen playing an important role in hydropower evacuation from two major projects the Chenab valley.
Kishtwar substation progress
According to a recent CEA report, the Kishtwar substation is expected to commission by April 2025, as per schedule. As of end-May 2024, nearly 40 per cent of the substation equipment had arrived on site, while civil work was completed to the extent of over 12 per cent. However, the project is seen to need administrative support from UT of J&K in the transport of over-dimensional cargo like transformers and GIS equipment to the project site, especially movement of cargo on bridges. This support is in view of revision in permission guidelines for movement of over-dimensional cargo on national highways, as per a circular released by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in January this year.
Featured photograph (source: rhpcindia.com) shows the project site of the upcoming Ratle hydropower project in UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
