Sterlite Grid becomes India’s 1st to deploy Aircrane for power transmission project in J&K

Sterlite Power Grid Ventures Limited (Sterlite Grid) has announced that it has become India’s first private power transmission developer to deploy Aircrane for setting up of a power transmission line in the extremely challenging terrain of Jammu & Kashmir. Sterlite Grid has partnered with US-based Erickson Inc. to install nearly 160 transmission towers in the rough terrain of Pir Panjal ranges, using Erickson’s S64 Aircrane, a heavy lift helicopter.

With the NRSS 29 Project set to commence in mid-2016, Sterlite Grid expects to commission the transmission network between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir nearly 10 months ahead of schedule.

Erickson will help Sterlite Grid erect towers for the NRSS 29 power line in the remote Himalayan region at altitudes of 9,000-12,500 feet. Erickson will fly materials and steel to build the towers utilising the S64 Aircrane, capable of high-precision aerial lift work. Erickson has 40 years of experience building transmission towers utilising the Aircrane in similarly remote and austere environments.

With J&K’s power demand at about 3,000 MW, the Project will enable the state to draw double the power from the national grid. Today, the state is dependent on local hydro power projects and a single transmission line passes through avalanche/landslide prone areas connecting J&K with the national grid. The NRSS 29 project will strengthen the existing power transfer capability by 70%, provide an alternate route for power transfer and increase reliability of the grid. It will enable exchange of more than 1,000 MW of power between J&K & Northern Grid and create provision for future expansion. The NRSS-29 is the largest private sector transmission project awarded in India till date.

“We, at Sterlite Grid, are committed to the nation’s vision to electrify every home. We strongly believeinnovation and cutting-edge technologies will be the key drivers to achieve faster growth. We are glad to introduce a global leader like Erickson to the potential of India’s infrastructure sector and look forward to working with them on future projects,” said Pratik Agarwal, Vice Chairman, Sterlite Grid.

“Erickson is excited to have been awarded this strategic contract in India by Sterlite Grid. India is a large market for Erickson and we believe we can offer a competitive advantage in the construction of infrastructure projects in the country. As a business, we are pivoting towards long-term, infrastructure projects in the emerging and developing markets. We are looking forward to building a long-term relationship with Sterlite Grid and India,” said Jeff Roberts, President and CEO, Erickson.