PGCIL accounts for over half of transmission line addition in Q1FY27

Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) accounted for over half of the total transmission line network commissioned in the first quarter (Q1: April to June) of FY27, official statistics suggest.

According to latest statistics released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), a total of 3,090 ckm of transmission lines of 220kV or more were commissioned during Q1FY27. Of these, PGCIL accounted for 1,637 ckm, or nearly 53 per cent.

The Central PSU commissioned 655 ckm of 400kV lines and an even larger 982 ckm of 765kV lines during Q1FY27, the statistics reveal.

Some of the major lines completed by PGCIL include:

1. 765kV double-circuit Kurnool III PS – Maheshwaram (508 ckm)
2. 765kV double-circuit Beawar – Dausa  (474 ckm)
3. 400kV double-circuit Ananthapuram PS – Cuddapah (371 ckm)

 

It is noteworthy that Line #2 and Line #3 listed above contributed to the full commissioning of their respective interstate transmission system (ISTS) schemes, both awarded under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism. These were respectively housed under “Powergrid Beawar Dausa Transmission Ltd” and “Powergrid Ananthapuram Kurnool Transmission Ltd.”  As discussed in tndindia.com’s special report dated July 24, 2026, three ISTS-TBCB schemes were fully commissioned in Q1FY27 – the aforementioned two by PGCIL and one by a private sector developer.

PGCIL’s achievement of 1,637 ckm in Q1FY27 had a favourable impact on the overall addition of transmission lines on the ISTS grid. In this period, a total of 1,993 ckm was commissioned on the ISTS side, out of which PGCIL accounted for 82 per cent. Also, the build-up of lines on the ISTS network represented nearly 65 per cent of the total transmission line addition in Q1FY27. The remaining 35 per cent (or 1,097 ckm) came on intrastate grids, the maximum (456 ckm) being in Maharashtra.

 

For the full year FY27, PGCIL is expected to commission a total of 4,799 ckm of new lines, comparable to the actual achievement of 4,715 ckm in FY26.

 

Overall performance

The 3,090 ckm of lines commissioned in Q1FY27 across all voltage classes and ownership groups fell short of the planned addition of 5,034 ckm. PGCIL, despite being the biggest contributor, could not achieve the targeted 2,600 ckm. State utilities were expected to commission 1,954 ckm of new lines in Q1FY27, against which the actual achievement stood at 1,269 ckm. Private sector entities, led by G R Infraprojects Ltd, did 184 ckm, less than 40 per cent of the anticipated 480 ckm.

For the entire FY27, a total of 16,554 ckm of new lines are expected to be commissioned as against 12,139 ckm actually commissioned in FY26. Of the projected FY27 addition, the ISTS network will see 9,272 ckm while 7,282 ckm will be on the intrastate grids. The actual achievement in FY26 was 6,009 ckm and 6,130 ckm, respectively.

 

Featured photograph is for representation only