No interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme awarded under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism has been fully commissioned in the ongoing fiscal year FY25, so far.
According to latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), no ISTS-TBCB scheme was fully commissioned in FY25, up to July 31, 2024.
ISTS-TBCB schemes likely to commission soon
Nevertheless, during the remaining two months – August and September 2024 – of Q2FY25, one can look forward to some ISTS-TBCB schemes getting fully commissioned with private sector developers expected to make a large contribution.
Sterlite Power is likely to fully commission two ISTS-TBCB schemes, the major one being “Western Region Strengthening Scheme – XIX (WRSS-XIX) and North Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme – IX (NERSS-IX)” that is housed under project SPV “Mumbai Urja Marg Ltd,” formerly known as “Vapi-II North Lakhimpur Transmission Ltd.”
This scheme covering Maharashtra, Gujarat and Assam, is seen to be very instrumental in meeting growing power demand in Mumbai. While some elements of this scheme have already been operationalized, full commissioning of the scheme is likely in Q2FY25 with the completion of remaining elements like the 400kV double-circuit Pagdhe – Kharghar (quad) line and the 400/200kV, 2×500 MVA Vapi-II substation, among others.
In totality (including elements commissioned), the Mumbai Urja Marg Ltd project, with an estimated outlay of Rs.1,223 crore, will see 357 ckm of transmission lines and 1,000 MVA of transformation capacity getting added to the ISTS network.
Sterlite Power is also likely to fully commission the “Nangalbibra-Bongaigaon Transmission Ltd” project, envisaging development of the new 220/132kV, 2x160MVA Nangalbibra substation in Assam, along with 282 ckm of associated lines.
Meanwhile, Sterlite Power may also commission some more elements of the “Additional 400kV feed to Goa and for Raigarh (Tamnar) Pool” ISTS-TBCB project housed under “Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Ltd” in Q2FY25 even as the full commissioning is scheduled for February 2026.
Renew Transmission Ventures is poised to fully commission two independently awarded, but related schemes, associated with RE evacuation from Gadag in Karnataka. These two schemes – Gadag Transmission Ltd and Gadag IIA Transmission Ltd – will see the build-up of evacuation infrastructure for 2.5 GW of RE generation, through the new 5×500 MVA, 400/220kV Gadag pooling station.
Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) might fully commission an ISTS-TBCB project “Western Region Expansion Scheme – XXVII (WRES XXVII)” housed under “Powergrid Raipur Pool Dhamtari Transmission Ltd,” contributing 225 ckm of 400kV lines to the ISTS grid.
Overall impact
Considering ISTS-TBCB schemes, or elements thereof, likely to commission in the remaining period of Q2FY25, which is by September 30, 2024, around 1,050 ckm of transmission lines and close of 5,000 MVA of substation capacity is seen being added to the ISTS network.
In FY24 (full year, April to March), a special study by T&D India suggested that ISTS-TBCB schemes had added 4,080 ckm of transmission lines and 18,500 MVA of substation capacity to the ISTS network. (Read full story)
Editor’s Note: It may be noted that in a story dated August 13, 2024, T&D India had reported that 4,815 MVA of ISTS-based transformation capacity was commissioned during the April-July period of FY25. This addition could have arisen out of ISTS schemes (or constituent substation elements) awarded under the RTM route, or substation elements of ISTS-TBCB schemes. The present story reports that no ISTS-TBCB schemes was fully commissioned in the April-July period of FY25.
