The National Committee on Transmission (NCT) has ruled out any extension in the completion schedule for OPGW (optical ground wire) installations on existing transmission lines, in live-line conditions.
In its most recent meeting, NCT said that it would not allow for an extension that was sought by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) for five such projects that it was granted on regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) projects. (See list at the end of story)
Currently, the timeframe for completion of OPGW installations on existing transmission lines, in live-line conditions, varies from 18 months to 24 months, depending on the length of the transmission line. It stands at 18 months for lines less than 200 km and 24 months for those exceeding 200 km.
PGCIL had sought extension in the envisaged completion schedule from 18/24 months to 36 months
In supporting the extension, PGCIL had cited operational difficulties that included requirement of permit to work (PTW) from Grid Controller of India Ltd (Grid-India) and difficulties due to power system constraints. PGCIL also submitted that orders from Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and Union Ministry of Power (MoP) mandating preference to domestic suppliers have impacted the availability of equipment suppliers and service providers.
However, NCT maintained that when the complete power transmission system itself has a implementation timeframe of 24 months, it was not justifiable to grant a completion time period of 36 months for just the OPGW installation.
In one of its earlier meeting held in January 2023, NCT had allocated five OPGW projects to PGCIL and one to India Grid Trust (IndiGrid), under the RTM route. The projects involved installation/replacement of OPGW on existing interstate transmission system (ISTS) lines.
According to information available with T&D India, the six transmission lines in question are:
- 400kV Jallandhar – Kurukshetra (PGCIL)
- 400kV Koldam – Ludhiana (IndiGrid)
- 400kV Kota – Merta (PGCIL)
- 400kV Agra – Ballabhgarh (PGCIL)
- 400kV Kishenpur – Wagoora (PGCIL)
- 220kV Anta – Bhilwara (PGCIL)
Also read: NCT To Deliberate On Completion Schedule Of HVDC-Based Project In Rajasthan
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