Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd has commissioned a 765kV single circuit transmission line from Raichur in Karnataka to Solapur in Maharashtra on December 31, 2013, thus achieving ‘One Nation – One Grid – One Frequency’.
The southern grid has been synchronously connected to the rest of the grid in the country through commissioning of the Raichur-Solapur 765kV single circuit transmission facilitating bulk transfer of power across regional boundaries.
The 208 circuit km line with 765/400kV substations at Raichur and Solapur has been commissioned five months ahead of its contractual schedule of May 31, 2014. The project is estimated to cost Rs.815 crore.
With this interconnection, the Indian power system has entered into a new era of becoming one of the largest operating synchronous grids in the world with about 232 GW of installed power generation capacity.
Synchronous integration of southern grid with rest of the national power grid will not only augment the interregional power transfer capacity of the southern region but also relieve the congestion being experienced in few transmission corridors.
So far, the Indian power system is operating through five regional grids and a pan-India synchronous grid was envisaged for optimal utilisation of the generation resources in the country.
With the connection of the southern grid through HVDC links to the other four grids—Northern, Eastern, Western (NEW)—which were already connected synchronously, the interconnection was envisaged as an ultimate step towards establishment of an “All India Synchronous National Grid” facilitating bulk transfer of power across regional boundaries.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved PowerGrid’s proposal for construction of a 220kV transmission system from Alusteng in Srinagar to Leh via Drass, Kargil and Khalsti 220/66kV substations and 66kV interconnection system for Drass, Kargil, Khalsti and Leh substations in Jammu & Kashmir at an estimated total cost of Rs.1,788.41 crore.
The transmission project will provide grid connectivity and reliable power supply to the strategically important Ladakh region. The project will be implemented within 42 months from the date of release of the first installment of funds. The project cost will be borne by the centre and state governments in the ratio of 95:5.
Once completed, the project would be transferred to the state government for operation and maintenance. PGCIL would soon sign an MoU.