The North-Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP) is now expected to be fully commissioned in June 2025.
According to latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), of the total 446 project elements envisaged under NERPSIP, 372 elements were fully commissioned as of March 31, 2025.
Of the remaining 74 elements, 26 were ready to commission while major works were completed on 46 others. Two elements – both substations located in Nagaland – were pending and are likely to commission by June 2025, signifying full completion of NERPSIP.
NERPSIP involves upgrade of power T&D infrastructure across northeastern states (except Arunachal Pradesh) and has Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) as the project implementation agency. Arunachal Pradesh, along with Sikkim, is covered in a separate Centrally-sponsored programme titled “Comprehensive Scheme of Transmission & Distribution System in Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim.”
Overall, NERPSIP envisages 3,222 ckm of transmission lines through 194 packages, and 5848.64 MVA of substation capacity coming from 252 packages – 118 new substations and 134 augmentation works. The programme covers power T&D infrastructure of voltages 33kV, 132kV and 220kV.
As can be seen from the table, nearly 80 per cent of the 3,222 ckm of the transmission lines envisaged has been completed. Even the remaining 20 per cent represents lines that are in advanced stages of completion. As such there is no “critical balance” work pending as far as transmission lines are concerned.
The contentious part of NERPSIP are two 132kV substation projects in Nagaland – upgrade of existing 66/33kV Tuensang substation to 132/33kV level, and the new 2×25 MVA, 132/33kV Pfutsero substation.
The Tuensang substation package award was delayed due to reluctance of vendors, in turn owing to tough topographic conditions. The package was finally awarded in August 2023 to Power Mech Projects. As of March 31, 2025, project land was fully acquired while 60 per cent of the civil works were completed. Around 80 per cent of the equipment had arrived on site, and equipment erection stood at around 10 per cent.
Work on the Pfutsero substation was severely hampered due to land sinking at the adjacent highway. IIT-Guwahati has recommended measures for dealing with the land-sinking problem, and these recommendations are being implemented, it is learnt. The substation is currently on track with 94 per cent equipment erection completed.
Project expenditure
Up to March 31, 2025, a total sum of Rs.5,282.51 crore was released towards NERSIP and the total project expenditure, as of given date, was Rs.5202.62 crore. Government of India and World Bank are financing this project on 50:50 basis. While NERSIP was originally scheduled to complete in December 2018, the overall completion is now envisaged only by June 2025.
Also read: NERPSIP makes good progress in FY25
Featured photograph (source: North Eastern Council) showing a substation in Mizoram is for representation only.
