Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has been awarded three interstate transmission system (ISTS) schemes under the RTM route.
In its latest meeting, National Committee on Transmission (NCT) approved the implementation of three ISTS schemes by PGCIL under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) modality.
The three schemes have an aggregate estimated outlay of Rs.452 crore and would be implemented over the next 18-24 months. Each of the three projects involve augmentation or upgrade of existing transmission assets owned by PGCIL, which possibly explains why they were awarded to PGCIL on the RTM route, instead of tendering them as independent projects on TBCB (tariff based competitive bidding) basis.
Three broad details of the three schemes are:
Project: Augmentation of transformation capacity at 765/400kV Indore substation in Madhya Pradesh by third 1500 MVA ICT
Cost: Rs.126 crore
Completion: 18 months
Rationale: Enabling compliance of loading limits under ‘N-1’ contingency criteria by FY28
Project: Augmentation of transformation capacity at 765/400kV Kurnool (New) substation in Andhra Pradesh, by third 1500 MVA ICT
Cost: Rs.162 crore
Completion: 18 months
Rationale: To cater to 989 MW of connectivity granted to AM Green Energy Pvt Ltd at Kurnool (New) substation
Project: Reconductoring of 400kV single-circuit Raichur-Veltoor line, spanning Karnataka and Telangana with HTLS conductor
Cost: Rs.164 crore
Completion: 24 months
Rationale: To accommodate high electricity flow on the line during peak wind season
ISTS Communication Schemes on RTM basis
Apart from the aforementioned projects, NCT also approved the implementation of three communication-related projects on ISTS assets, to be implemented on RTM basis. While two of these will be commissioned by PGCIL, the third has been assigned to Western Transco Power Ltd (WTPL). According to information available with T&D India, WTPL was originally owned by Reliance (ADAG) Group and is now under Adani Group ownership, going by the name “Western Region Transmission (Maharashtra) Pvt Ltd.” The communication project involves installation of OPGW on the existing 765kV Pune-Parli line which is to be LILOed at Kallam substation in Maharashtra.
The two communication projects to be built by PGCIL include OPGW installation on the Itarsi-Dhule transmission line in Maharashtra. The two OPGW projects will be implemented in 24 months, with an outlay of around Rs.15 crore each.
The third project, to be implemented by PGCIL, involves setting up of additional fibre optic testing equipment (FOTE) at Loktak and Bongaigaon locations in Manipur and Assam, respectively.
Also read:Three ISTS Schemes Worth Rs.6,000 Crore Recommended For Clearance
Featured photograph is for representation only.
