Power T&D upgrade in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and UT of Ladakh, envisaged under the “Prime Minister Development Package – 2015” project, is expected to be fully commissioned by October 2025.
According to statistics recently released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), of the total 32 packages constituting the full project, 27 were completed as of March 31, 2024. The remaining five are envisaged for completion progressively from June 2024 up to October 2025.
The power T&D upgrade component of PMDP-2015 was approved by the Union power ministry in January 2017 with an estimated cost of Rs.1,189.59 crore. This now stands revised to Rs.2,064.97 crore.
Three agencies – Jammu & Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (JKPTCL), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) – are severally implementing the project. The project spans the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
In its entirety, the project aims to add around 584 ckm of transmission lines and 1850 MVA of transformation capacity (with a significant number of GIS substations) across the three regions.
Of the five unfinished packages, as of March 31, 2024, two belong to JKPTCL while three are under REPPDCL. PGCIL completed all its packages, numbering six, during the period July 2021 to August 2023. JKPTCL has been assigned most of the packages, at 22, while RECPDCL has been entrusted with four. (See table).
The CEA report indicates that JKPTCL is likely to complete its two unfinished packages – both relating to power transmission lines in Jammu region – by July 2024. RECPDCL is scheduled to complete one package by July 2025 and the remaining two by October 2025.
The RECPDCL package scheduled to commission by July 2025 includes 5.5-ckm LILO of 220kV single-circuit transmission line at Nagrota substation, and development of the 2×50 MVA, 220/33kV Nagrota substation, in Jammu region. For both package elements, the original contract was rescinded and re-tendering for balance works is currently in progress.
Two RECPDCL packages that are scheduled to commission by October 2025 were originally scheduled to complete by October 2023. Both packages are in the Ladakh region and together envisage 265 ckm of 220kV lines and 100 MVA of transformation capacity coming from two 220/33kV, 50 MVA GIS substations. It is learnt that fund paucity with the project implementation agency has held up progress on these two packages. Both the projects experienced significant cost overrun and the RECPDCL is now in the process of seeking approval for the revised cost estimate and release of funds, it is learnt.
Editor’s Note: It may be mentioned that “Prime Minister Development Package – 2015,” approved on November 7, 2015 is a holistic programme covering the then undivided state of Jammu & Kashmir. With an outlay of Rs.80,068 crore, PMDP-2015 touches upon aspects like Humanitarian Relief, Crisis Management, Social Infrastructure, Development Projects And Economic Infrastructure. This story focuses only on the power T&D projects envisaged under the “Economic Infrastructure” aspect of PMDP-2015.
Featured photograph is for representation only
