A major interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme has been proposed in Madhya Pradesh, which will address evacuation of both thermal power and renewable energy.
The scheme, termed as “Common transmission system augmentation for evacuation of power from 2×800-MW Gadarwara-II TPS and an additional 1500 MW RE power at Mandsaur substation,” was cleared at a recent meeting of National Committee on Transmission (NCT). It was have two components – Part A and Part B.
To be implemented under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) framework, the ISTS scheme will have PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) as its bid process coordinator.
The larger of the two components – Part A – will cost Rs.3,201 crore and will have an implementation timeframe of 36 months. Part B, with an estimated outlay of Rs.372 crore, is envisaged to complete by March 2031.
Multifold objectives
As the name suggests, this scheme will serve two primary objectives. First, it will create evacuation infrastructure for NTPC’s upcoming 2×800-MW Gadarwara-II thermal power project in Narsinghpur district of Madhya Pradesh. Second, it will help honour additional connectivity applications of 1,500 MW received at the Mandsaur pooling station (PS) in the western state. It may be noted that connectivity of 4,500 MW has already been granted at the said substation.
Besides, the scheme also aims to evacuate additional RE power from Rajasthan into the western regional (WR) grid, mitigate overloading on existing 765kV double-circuit lines such as Gadarwara-Jabalpur and Gadarwara-Warora PS. It will also help alleviate high loading on the existing 765kV single-circuit Kurawar-Bhopal line, apart from helping maintain fault levels within permissible limits at Gadarwara and Jabalpur substations.
Project elements
Under the combined scope of Part A and Part B of the scheme, transformation capacity of the existing Mandsaur PS will be augmented by five interconnecting transformers — 2×1500 MVA, 765/400kV and 3×500 MVA, 400/220kV. A new 765/400kV substation will be commissioned at Gadarwara, with transformation capacity of 2×1500 MVA. This substation will be connected to the under-construction 765/400kV Kurawar substation via a 765kV double-circuit line running 225 km, and with one circuit LILOed at the existing Bhopal substation.
In effect, three 765kV single-circuit lines will be created – Kurawar-Gadarwara (225 km), Kurawar-Bhopal (50 km) and Bhopal-Gadarwara (175 km). The Bhopal substation is owned by Bhopal Dhule Transmission Company Ltd, part of IndiGrid.
The 765/400/220/132kV Kurawar substation is coming up through another ISTS-TBCB scheme housed under “Powergrid Kurawar Transmission Ltd,” a TBCB subsidiary of PGCIL. Incidentally, this scheme, which also involves connecting Kurawar to various substations like Mandsaur, Astha and Shujalpur, is scheduled to commission by June 2027.
Connectivity at Mandsaur PS
As discussed above, connectivity of 4,500 MW has already been granted at the Mandsaur PS. This is being achieved through several transmission elements, currently under construction. These include:
- Mandsaur Pooling Station (3×1500 MVA, 765/400kV and 5×500 MVA, 400/220kV)
- 765kV double-circuit Mandsaur-Indore line (351 ckm)
- 765kV double-circuit Mandsaur-Kurawar line (402 ckm)
- Augmentation of Mandsaur PS (1×1500 MVA, 765/400kV and 2×500 MVA, 400/220kV)
- 765kV double-circuit Mandsaur PS – Khandwa (New) PS line (535 ckm)
The aforementioned elements are being developed through various ISTS-TBCB schemes housed under: Powergrid Mandsaur Transmission Ltd (#1 and #2), Powergrid Kurawar Transmission Ltd (#3), Powergrid Mandsaur I RE Transmission Ltd (#4) and Powergrid Sirohi Khandwa Transmission Ltd (#5). Incidentally, all these four entities are TBCB subsidiaries of PGCIL.
Featured photograph (source: MPPTCL / MP Transco) is for representation only