Six interstate transmission system (ISTS) schemes awarded under the tariff-based completive bidding (TBCB) route were fully commissioned during the first nine months (April to December) of FY25.
According to an analysis by T&D India, based on official statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a total of six ISTS-TBCB schemes were fully commissioned in the first nine months (or first three quarters) of FY25, inclusive of one in December 2024.
The analysis suggests that while Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) fully commissioned three schemes, Sterlite Power had two such to its credit, followed by ReNew Power with one.
It may be noted that this study discusses ISTS-TBCB schemes that were fully commissioned during the April-December period of FY25. It is very likely that some elements of these schemes were commissioned and even made operational earlier.
A notable ISTS-TBCB project to be fully commissioned during the period under study is “Transmission system strengthening scheme for evacuation of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase-II, Part C.” This project was developed by “Powergrid Sikar Transmission Ltd” – a TBCB subsidiary of PGCIL.
Originally scheduled to commission by December 2022, this scheme was stymied by delays owing to the potential GIB (Great Indian Bustard) habitation issue. The biggest components of the scheme – the 765kV double-circuit Bhadla-II to Sikar-II line of 618 ckm and the 765/400kV 2×1,500 MVA Sikar-II substation – were commissioned in December 2024, resulting in full commissioning of the project. A smaller component – the 400kV double-circuit line of 270 ckm from Sikar-II to Neemrana – was commissioned earlier, in October 2024.
PGCIL had commissioned “Part D” of this project, housed under “Powergrid Aligarh Sikar Transmission Ltd” in October 2024. This project too was GIB-affected and was delayed by nearly two years. Similarly, “Part B” of this overall scheme was commissioned in August 2024.
The total transmission infrastructure entailed by these six ISTS-TBCB schemes fully commissioned in the April-December period of FY25 is estimated at 2,634 ckm of lines and 5,320 MVA of substation capacity. However, as mentioned earlier, some part of this infrastructure could have got commissioned earlier. The total investment entailed by the six schemes is estimated to be nearly Rs.7,000 crore.
Sterlite Power had to its credit two ISTS-TBCB schemes getting fully commissioned in the period under study. These were schemes housed under “Mumbai Urja Marg Ltd” and “Nangalbibra-Bongaigaon Transmission Ltd.”
Here is a summary of the six ISTS-TBCB schemes fully commissioned in the first three quarters (April to December) of FY25:
Project SPV: Powergrid Bhadla Transmission Ltd
Developer: PGCIL
Scheme: Transmission system strengthening scheme for evacuation of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase-II, Part B
Full commissioning date: August 2024
Infrastructure: 405 ckm
States covered: Rajasthan
Annual tariff: Rs.728.93 million
Estimated Cost: Rs.1,106 crore
Project SPV: Gadag Transmission Ltd
Developer: ReNew Power
Scheme: Transmission system for Gadag Solar Energy Zone (1,000 mw), Karnataka, Part A, Phase I
Full commissioning date: September 2024
Infrastructure: 187 ckm; 1,000 MVA
States covered: Karnataka
Annual tariff: Rs.297 million
Estimated Cost: Rs.365 crore
Project SPV: Mumbai Urja Marg Ltd
Developer: Sterlite Power
Scheme: WRSS XIX and NERSS IX
Full commissioning date: October 2024
Infrastructure: 357 ckm; 1,000 MVA
States covered: Gujarat, Maharashtra, UT of DNH&DD, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh
Annual Tariff: Rs.2,565.92 million
Estimated Cost: Rs.1,223 crore
Project SPV: Powergrid Aligarh Sikar Transmission Ltd
Developer: PGCIL
Scheme: Transmission system strengthening scheme for evacuation of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase-II, Part D
Full commissioning date: October 2024
Infrastructure: 514 ckm
States covered: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
Annual tariff: Rs.997.01 million
Estimated project cost: Rs.1,516 crore
Project SPV: Nangalbibra-Bongaigaon Transmission Ltd
Developer: Sterlite Power
Scheme: New 220/132kV substation at Nangalbibra
Full commissioning date: October 2024
Infrastructure: 283 ckm; 320 MVA
States covered: Assam, Meghalaya
Annual tariff: Rs.558.59 million
Estimated project cost: Rs.604 crore
Project SPV: Powergrid Sikar Transmission Ltd
Developer: PGCIL
Scheme: Transmission system strengthening scheme for evacuation of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase-II, Part C
Full commissioning date: December 2024
Infrastructure: 888 ckm; 3,000 MVA
States covered: Rajasthan
Annual tariff: Rs.1673.05 million
Estimated project cost: Rs.2,182 crore
Featured photograph is for representation only
