Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has amended the extant transmission licence of Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra Ltd (AEMIL) to incorporate newly commissioned and future elements of its Mumbai intrastate HVDC transmission system.
In its order dated June 16, 2026, MERC approved amendments to the original licence that was granted to AEMIL in March 2021. The new licence is now being referred to as “Transmission Licence No.2 of 2021 (First Amendment).” [See section “Original licence” at the end of this story.]
The amendments basically include transmission elements – both commissioned and proposed — under the Mumbai HVDC scheme.
The Mumbai HVDC scheme involving a 1×1,000-MW HVDC VSC-based link between MSETCL’s 400kV Kudus EHV substation and AEML’s 220kV Aarey EHV substation was commissioned earlier this year. (Read tndindia.com story dated April 15, 2026)
New lines (with their exact lengths), commissioned under Pole-1 of this HVDC project, have now been included in the amended transmission licence of AEMIL. These are:
- 400kV MSETCL Kudus – AEMIL Kudus transmission line 1 (0.08 ckm)
- 400kV MSETCL Kudus – AEMIL Kudus transmission line 2 (0.08 ckm)
- 220kV AEMIL Aarey HVDC – AEML Aarey Line 1 (0.036 ckm)
- 220kV AEMIL Aarey HVDC – AEML Aarey Line 2 (0.025 ckm)
- ±320kV Kudus – Mandvi HVDC line [overhead] (29.29 ckm)
- ±320kV Kudus – Mandvi HVDC line [underground] (47.10 ckm)
The transmission licence also includes around 23 bays of various types, associated with the HVDC project. (AEML is Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd)
Pole-2
Most significantly, the amended transmission licence also covers transmission elements that are proposed to be developed by AEMIL as part of “Pole 2” of the Aarey-Kudus HVDC scheme.
The basis for developing Pole 2, as discussed in a recent MERC order, is the fact that Mumbai’s peak load that touched 4,306 MW in FY25 is projected to rise to 5,140 MW by FY30, even going by a conservative compounded annual growth rate of 3.6 per cent.
Accordingly, the Maharashtra STU (state transmission utility) under its 10-year plan ending FY34 has incorporated Pole-2 of the Aarey-Kudus scheme to be implemented by AEMIL, under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) framework. It may be noted that the RTM route was chosen over TBCB as Pole-2 is essentially an extension of the already-commissioned Pole-1 and envisages use of certain assets already created under the HVDC scheme.
It is also noteworthy that Central Electricity Authority (CEA), in its letter of June 2019 had recommended reserving space and right of way (RoW) for a second 1,000-MW HVDC link from Aarey to Kudus. In compliance with the suggestion, AEMIL has already made space and RoW provision for the aforementioned link (known as Pole-2) during the execution of Pole-1 itself. Pole-2, when commissioned, will enabling transfer of a further 1,000 MW into the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) grid.
Original licence
The original licence granted to AEMIL on March 21, 2021, was referred to as “Transmission Licence for Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra Ltd (AEMIL), (Licence 2 of 2021).” It included tentative lengths of transmission lines and estimated number of bays associated with Pole-1 of the Aarey-Kudus HVDC project that is now commissioned. The amended licence, discussed in this story, specifies the exact lengths of lines and the exact number of bays, associated with Pole-1. In addition, it includes elements that will be developed as part of Pole-2.
Related story: South Mumbai to get 400kV system, Mahalakshmi substation to be upgraded (June 11, 2026)
Featured photograph (source: Adani Group) shows the Kudus HVDC receiving station, which is a critical part of AEMIL’s Aarey-Kudus HVDC scheme in Mumbai.