In a recent order, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has allowed the renaming of project SPV “Vapi-II North Lakhimpur Transmission Ltd.” that is developing a major interstate transmission scheme under the TBCB mode.
Vapi-II North Lakhimpur Transmission Ltd (VNLTL) will now be known as “Mumbai Urja Marg Ltd”, a proposal that has been approved by CERC in its order dated August 25, 2022.
VNLTL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterlite Grid 13 Ltd, in turn a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd.
In April 2021, VNLTL was granted interstate transmission licence to develop the Western Region Strengthening Scheme-XIX (WRSS-XIX) and the North Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme-IX (NERSS-IX) on BOOM basis. The name change from VNLTL to Mumbai Urja Marg Ltd was carried out in April 2022, and the same was approved by CERC in its aforementioned order.
The interstate transmission project housed under
(MUML) is a Rs.2,000 crore scheme taking shape across Gujarat, Maharashtra (mainly Mumbai) and northeast India.
Currently under active implementation, the project has five major components that are envisaged for completion between October 2022 and December 2023. The project has been facing delays, largely owning to the COVID-induced lockdowns, and has been granted time extension of eight months by Ministry of Power.
Also read: CERC Grants Transmission Licence To Nangalbibra-Bongaigaon Scheme
Mumbai component
One of the five project components envisages additional ISTS feed to the 400/220kV substation of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) at Navi Mumbai, which possibly explains the rationale for the change in company name.
This component, in turn, envisages the following elements:
- 400kV double-circuit Phadge-Kharghar to be terminated into one circuit of 400kV double-circuit Kharghar-Ghatkopar line [140 ckm]
- LILO of 400kV single-circuit Phadge-Ghatkopar line at Navi Mumbai GIS [38 ckm]
- LILO of 220kV Apta-Kalwa and Apta-Taloja lines at Navi Mumbai [4.8 ckm]
The first element envisages towers at 205 locations, out of which 58 pass through forest area. There has been some delay in construction activities owing to the involvement of several external entities like Lodha Group and MIDC.
The second element is also facing difficulties owing to the involvement of several utilities like CIDCO and MIDC. Also, 22 out of the total 60 locations of the transmission lines pass through forest area.
The third element mentioned above is expected to be commissioned by December 2022. As of end-July 2022, the detailed survey was already completed.
The entire Mumbai component is envisaged for completion by December 2023.
Featured photograph (source: Godrej & Boyce) is for representation only.
