Transmission line addition during the first five months (April to August) of ongoing fiscal year FY24 fell significantly short of target.
According to an analysis by T&D India, based on statistics newly released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the country saw addition of 3,657 ckm of new transmission lines, which was just 42 per cent of the planned addition of 8,784 ckm. 
- Central government agencies, entirely Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), were most successful. As against the planned addition of 1,589 ckm, actual addition was 1,469 ckm – representing target achievement of 92 per cent.
- State government utilities could meet just 33 per cent of the planned addition of 5,050 ckm. The actual addition stood at 1,679 ckm.
- The private sector did even worse, achieving just 24 per cent of the planned addition – 509 ckm added as against 2,145 ckm planned.
- In terms of voltage class, nearly half of the overall addition of 3,657 ckm came from the 400kV category. While 41 per cent was from 220kV lines, the remaining 9 per cent was accounted for by 765kV lines.
- No HVDC lines were added in the period under study. In fact, no HVDC lines have been planned for the whole of FY24.
- The private sector accounted for the entire addition of 335 ckm of 765kV lines.
- State utilities did not fare well with respect to 400kV line addition. As against the targeted 1,488 ckm, actual addition was just 254 ckm.
- Over 80 per cent of the 400kV lines added were from Central agencies, entirely circumscribed by PGCIL.
- Almost the entire planned addition of 765kV lines was expected from the private sector. However, this ownership group could commission only 335 ckm as against the planned 1,659 ckm. This achievement came from the lone commissioning of the Hyderabad-Kurnool double-circuit line by Adani Power.
- The most significant transmission line infrastructure commissioned in the April-August period of FY24 was the 1,102-ckm 400kV Bikaner-II PS – Khetri multi-circuit line by PGCIL, in Rajasthan. This line alone represented over 75 per cent of PGCIL’s overall ckm-based achievement in the first five months of FY24.
- Amongst state utilities, the highest addition of 220kV lines came from Uttar Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (UPPTCL) that added 331 ckm, in an overall achievement of 1,425 ckm. State transmission utilities of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also made noteworthy contributions.
- For FY24, the overall target for transmission line addition currently stands at 16,602 ckm. For a frame of reference, the actual FY23 performance measured 14,625 ckm.
Also read: Transmission Line Addition In FY24 Estimated To Grow 13.5 Per Cent
(Note: The “220kV” category in the table also includes transmission lines of 230kV; the category is predominantly 220kV though.)
