Transmission line addition in the first two months of the current fiscal year has fallen significantly short of target.
According to statistics newly released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), only 391 ckm of transmission lines were added in the first two months (April and May) of FY25. This was barely 13 per cent of the planned addition of 2,956 ckm.
The entire addition of 391 ckm came from state utilities with Central government entities and the private sector recording nil achievement. It must however be noted that the bulk of the 2,956 ckm planned for addition was from state utilities that had a share of 2,184 ckm. Central agencies were supposed to add 537 ckm and the private sector, 235 ckm. (See table)
The 391 ckm added by state utilities was mainly concentrated around 220kV lines (331 ckm), followed by 400kV with 52 ckm and 230kV with 8 ckm. Bihar State Power Transmission Company Ltd recorded the highest achievement of 188 ckm, accounting for 48 per cent of the total transmission line addition by the state sector in the April-May period of FY25. Smaller contributions were seen coming from state transmission utilities of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
Substation capacity
In the first two months of FY25, India added transformation (Substation) capacity of 6,225 MVA as against the planned 9,580 MVA. Over half of this addition came from state utilities and was at the 220/230kV level.
Cumulative status
With 179 ckm of transmission lines added in April 2024, followed by 212 ckm in May 2024, the country’s total transmission network, of May 31, 2024, stood at 4,85,935 ckm. As of the same date, the interregional transfer capacity stood at 1,18,740 MW, up from 1,16,540 MW as of March 31, 2024.
(Note: This story only takes into account transmission lines and substations of 220kV or higher.)
Featured photograph (source: Apraava Energy) is for representation only.
