The total quantum of transmission line addition in Q1 of FY24 was just 54 per cent of the planned addition.
According to recently released statistics by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the country saw the addition of 2,796 ckm of transmission lines during Q1 (April to June) of FY24 that was 54.4 per cent of the planned addition of 5,138 ckm.
In its monitoring, CEA considers lines of voltage rating above and including 220kV. Sub-transmission and distribution lines are therefore outside of CEA’s purview.
Highlights:
- The overall transmission line addition – across all ownership groups – was quite disappointing during April and May 2023, where merely 476 ckm and 528 ckm of addition took place, respectively. It was only due to the revival in June 2023, when 1,792 ckm was added, that the Q1FY24 performance showed some respectability.
- The Central government sector (mainly accounted for by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd), after drawing a blank in April and May 2023, added 1,361 ckm in June 2023. Thanks to this, addition in Q1 of FY24 — also at 1,361 ckm — actually exceeded the target of 1,238 ckm.
- State government utilities saw the addition of 1,261 ckm in Q1 of FY24, meeting around 60 per cent of the target.
- The private sector, by and large, put up a disappointing performance with just 174 ckm of actual addition against the planned 1,804 ckm. The involvement of private sector entities is mainly by way of interstate and intrastate transmission schemes developed in the TBCB modality.
- In terms of voltage class, no 765kV line addition was seen in Q1 of FY24 even when 1,335 ckm was planned. Much of this planned addition was to come from private entities.
- As against the targeted 1896 ckm of 400kV lines in Q1 of FY24, the actual addition stood at 1,702 ckm, implying a target achievement of nearly 90 per cent. The 400kV accounted for bulk of the overall transmission line capacity addition in Q1 of FY24.
- In the 220kV voltage class – a segment dominated by state utilities – overall addition in Q1 of FY24 was 1094 ckm as against the planned 1907 ckm.
The planned addition of transmission lines for FY24 (full year) is 16,602 ckm as against the actual addition of 14,625 ckm in FY23.
Featured photograph (source: Sterlite Power) is for representation only.
