The quantum of ISTS lines and transformation capacity picked up sharply during the April-October period of FY25.
According to latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a total of 2,000 ckm of transmission lines and 19,335 MVA of transformation capacity was added to the interstate transmission system (ISTS) network during the first seven months (April to October) of FY25.
This was a big improvement over the performance in April-September (H1) of FY25 when merely 815 ckm of lines and 12,515 MVA of substation capacity was commissioned on the ISTS network.
The month of October 2024 was very eventful for ISTS infrastructure addition. Consider this: in the given month, as much as 1,185 ckm of line addition was witnessed, surpassing the performance of the entire H1FY25 period. On the transformation capacity side, a total of 6,820 MVA got added in October 2024, which was the highest addition seen in any month in H1FY25.
The 1,185 ckm added in October 2024 came from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) that added 783 ckm and Sterlite Power that contributed 402 ckm. Speaking of substation capacity, PGCIL added 5,500 MVA while Sterlite Power commissioned the remaining 1,320 MVA.
It is also noteworthy that three ISTS-TBCB projects were commissioned in October 2024, as against nil in H1FY25. This has been discussed in a separate story.
ISTS vs InSTS
During the April-October period of FY25, a total of 4,762 ckm of transmission lines were added with ISTS accounting for 42 per cent share and intrastate transmission system (InSTS) representing the remaining 58 per cent. On the substation side however, ISTS had a higher share of 58 per cent as against 42 per cent of InSTS, in terms of transformation capacity commissioned in the first seven months of FY25.
Cumulative status
As of October 31, 2024, India’s total transmission line network stood at 4,90,306 ckm, in which ISTS accounted for 2,12,990 ckm (or 43.4 per cent) and InSTS, the remaining 277,316 ckm (or 56.6 per cent). The total transformation capacity base as of given date was 12,84,345 MVA (or around 1,284 GVA) in which the ISTS grid had a share of around 42 per cent.
Also read: ISTS-TBCB market turns vibrant in H1FY25
(Note: This story takes into account transmission line and substations of 220kV or higher, only)
