Powering Up India: A ₹7,250 Crore Grid Upgrade

A major inter-regional transmission scheme worth ₹7,250 crore, titled the WR–ER Inter-Regional Network Expansion, has been approved to enhance power transfer capacity between the Western and Eastern grids. The project is slated for completion by March 2029.

Divided into three parts—Part A, Part B, and Part C—the scheme will be implemented through a mix of tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) and regulated tariff mechanism (RTM). REC Power Development & Consultancy will manage the bidding process for Parts A and C, while Part B has been awarded to Purulia & Kharagpur Transmission Company Ltd (PKTCL), a subsidiary of IndiGrid, continuing its grid infrastructure development mandate.

The initiative is designed to:

Reduce transmission corridor congestion during peak solar generation periods projected for 2028–29.

Facilitate evacuation of upcoming thermal power from Chhattisgarh.

Key Project Components:

Part A (₹6,272 crore): The largest segment, includes new 765/400 kV substations at Jamshedpur and Raigarh (Kotra-II), and 315 km of high-capacity transmission lines.

Part B: The smallest section, under PKTCL, continues regional network enhancement in line with previous developments.

Part C (₹913 crore): Involves connecting Jamshedpur to Balasore in Odisha, strengthening East-West power flow.

This strategic transmission upgrade is a crucial step toward ensuring grid reliability, renewable integration, and energy security across regions.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.