Inter- Regional Power Transfer capacity enhanced by 71% in southern region in last 18 months

Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy has announced that transmission sector has always been a priority area for the government. He said that the Power Ministry has already exceeded this year’s transmission target. Mr. Goyal gave details of various Transmission projects being undertaken in Southern Region, West Bengal and North Eastern Region (NER), which will help improving overall transmission systems in these regions.

Southern Region 

Mr. Piyush Goyal told that the inter regional power transfer capacity to Southern Region has been enhanced by 71% (2450 MW) in last 18 months and at present it is 5,900MW. He informed that this step has greatly facilitated southern region states to access power from resource rich areas. The synchronous connection of Southern grid with rest of the nation has led to reduction in exchange rate of power from Rs. 6-7 per unit to Rs. 3-4 per unit. On few days, one price across the entire country has been achieved, meaning thereby that there was no congestion, he added. The Minister also informed that various new links have been taken up for implementation to enhance power transfer capacity to Southern Region with an estimated cost of Rs. 38,000 Crore. This includes 6000 MW, ±800kV HVDC Bipole system between Raigarh (Western Region) and Pugalur (Southern Region). The power transfer capacity to Southern Region shall be enhanced progressively to about 17000 MW by 2019-20.

West Bengal:

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Goyal stated that in order to strengthen the inter-state transmission system in West Bengal, new transmission schemes comprising of about 2500 circuit kms transmission lines and 4 new 765 kV & 400 kV sub-stations have been planned. These schemes include interconnection between Northern and Southern part of West Bengal, new sub-stations near Kolkata (Rajarhat, Jeerat ) & Kharagpur, HVDC/AC station at Alipurduar and first 765 kV line in West Bengal at an estimated cost of about Rs 10000 Crores . These schemes shall go a long way in enhancing the power exchange between National Grid and West Bengal as well as in importing power from new hydro projects in Bhutan. 

North Eastern Region :

Mr. Goyal further said that a 400 kV ring system along with 5 new 400 kV sub-stations has been planned to provide a quantum boost to inter-state transmission system in NER, at an estimated cost of about Rs. 3500 crore. This interconnection shall facilitate enhanced exchange of power among states within NER as well as between NER and other parts of the country. These schemes are planned to be commissioned progressively by 2019-20. He added that a comprehensive scheme for strengthening of intra-state transmission and distribution system in all NER States including Sikkim comprising of about 8000 circuit kms transmission & distribution lines and 234 transmission & distribution sub-stations has been approved by Govt of India at an estimated cost of about Rs. 10,000 Crore. The scheme is being implemented by POWERGRID. The scheme covers entire area of NER and shall make the intra state system strong enough to cater to power demand of NER states for next 10 years. This scheme is planned to be commissioned progressively over next 3-4 years. 

The Minister told that recently, an 1800 km. long ± 800kV, 6000 MW multi-terminal HVDC line from Bishwanath Chariyali (Assam) in NER to Agra in NR along with 1500 MW terminals at Bishwanath Chariyali (NER) & Agra (NR) has been commissioned at an estimated cost of about Rs. 9000 Crore. The HVDC terminal capacity is to be enhanced to 3000 MW by 2016. This link shall give a boost to hydro power development in NER and can also facilitate transfer of power to NER in case of power deficit situation.