India added 11,320 ckm of transmission lines during the first ten months (April to January) of FY22, falling short of the target set for the period.
According to the latest available statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the addition of transmission lines (of 220kV and above) during the April-January period of FY22 was 11,320 ckm. This was 37.4 per cent short of the planned 18,073 ckm.
Here are some observations based on the statistics released:
- For the entire year FY22, a total of 19,255 ckm of new transmission lines are planned to be commissioned. In the first ten months, the target achievement has been only 59 per cent, which means that 41 per cent of the target needs to be achieved in the remaining two months.
- In FY21, a total of 16,750 ckm of lines were commissioned, which exceeded the targeted addition of 15791 ckm.
- In the first ten months of FY22, state government utilities accounted for nearly half of the total addition. Central government entities (mainly Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd) chipped in with 39 per cent, followed by the private sector with 11 per cent.
- No HVDC lines were commissioned in FY22 (April to January), neither have such lines been planned for the whole of FY22.
- In the April-January period of FY22, the quantum of 765kV lines commissioned (at 3,958 ckm) was more than the 400kV lines commissioned (at 3,258 ckm).
- The total addition of 220kV lines during the first ten months of FY22 was 4,104 ckm. This was just 51 per cent of the planned addition in the period.
- Central government agencies, which are predominantly PGCIL as discussed above, commissioned 4,398 ckm of lines, which exceeded the targeted 3,471 ckm. In fact, Central agencies have achieved their full year target in the first ten months itself.
- As expected, most of the lines commissioned by Central agencies were of the 765kV and 400kV type. State government utilities are mainly involved with 220kV lines.
- The private sector commissioned 1,280 ckm of transmission lines in the April-January period of FY22, as against the planned 3,303 ckm. Almost the entire addition came from 765kV lines.
Also read: Secure And Enhance The Reliability Of Transmission Lines With Transmission Line Arresters
- State government utilities could commission only 5,642 ckm of lines, considerably short of the 11,299 ckm targeted for commissioning in the first ten months of FY22.
