Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) is expected to fully commission the Koppal-Gadag interstate scheme by end of September 2026.
The ISTS-TBCB scheme is termed as “Transmission system for integration of REZ (Phase II) in Koppal II (Phase A&B) and Gadag-II (Phase A)” in Karnataka and is housed under project SPV “Powergrid Koppal Gadag Transmission Ltd.”
PGCIL had acquired the scheme in December 2023 under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism with completion scheduled for 24 months, which is by December 2025.
The scheme’s objective is to provide ISTS connectivity to RE generators in the Koppal and Gadag regions of Karnataka.
The pivotal element of this project is the 765/400kV, 2×1500 MVA and 400/220kV, 2×500 MVA Koppal-II (Phase-A) pooling substation that is likely to fully commission by end of September 2026, albeit with a delay of around nine months. It is learnt that land acquisition, completed in December 2024, was delayed by 12 months. Under the same project, this substation will also be augmented by 765/400kV, 2×1500 MVA and 400/220kV, 2×500 MVA interconnecting transformers (ICT). As of July 31, 2026, one 765/400kV ICT of 1500 MVA was commissioned.
The project also envisages the 400/220kV, 2×500 MVA Gadag-II pooling substation (Phase-A) that is nearing completion.
One transmission line associated with the project – 765kV double-circuit Koppal-II PS to Raichur (around 293 ckm) – was commissioned in July 2026. Another line of around 238 ckm is under construction and is expected to commission by end of September 2026. The line in question is the 765kV double-circuit Koppal-II PS to Narendra (New) line that ran into severe RoW constraints in areas like Koppal and Bagalkote.
As of July 31, 2026, all the 307 towers foundations were constructed and tower erection had taken place on 302 foundations. Stringing was completed to the extent of 65 per cent, as of given date.
The last element of this project is the 400kV double-circuit line of around 77 ckm connecting the two pooling stations. Of this, one circuit was charged in July 2026 while the second is likely to do so very soon.
Overall, the scheme envisages 608 ckm of lines and 9,000 MVA of substation capacity, of which around 330 ckm and 1,500 MVA was commissioned as of July 31, 2026.
With an estimated cost of Rs.4,445 crore, the Koppal-Gadag scheme will generate an annual revenue stream (transmission tariff) of Rs.315.35 crore for PGCIL.
Augmentation
It may be noted that PGCIL, through another ISTS-TBCB scheme, housed under “Powergrid Koppal Gadag Augmentation Transmission Ltd,” is expanding transformation capacity of the Koppal-II and Gadag-II pooling stations. Estimated to cost Rs.1,354 crore, this project is currently under implementation with completion scheduled for April 2027. While Koppal-II will be expanded by 765/400kV, 3×1500 MVA and 400/220kV, 5×500 MVA, Gadag-II will see its transformation capacity enhanced by 400/220kV, 7×500 MVA, making a total augmentation of 10,500 MVA across the two pooling substations. The two substation will be connected by a second double-circuit line of 400kV of around 77 ckm.
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