Powering Up India: A ₹29,000 Crore Boost to the Grid

India’s inter-state transmission system (ISTS) under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) framework has received a major boost, with the National Committee on Transmission (NCT) clearing six large-scale transmission schemes worth ₹29,092 crore in mid-August 2025.

This marks the largest set of project clearances in recent years, both in terms of total investment and number of schemes. The cleared projects are strategically designed to address diverse objectives:

Two projects aim to enhance inter-regional power transfer capacity.

Two projects focus on renewable energy integration in the southern region.

One project will facilitate power evacuation for green hydrogen and green ammonia plants in Andhra Pradesh.

Another project is geared toward evacuating hydropower from upcoming plants in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang basin.

The projects are evenly allocated between the two bid process coordinators—PFC Consulting Ltd. (PFCCL) and REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd. (RECPDCL). Bidding will begin following final approval from the Union Ministry of Power.

Collectively, these schemes will involve the development of over 5,000 circuit kilometers (ckm) of transmission lines and 48,000 MVA of transformation capacity, spanning the western, eastern, northeastern, and southern regional grids. The move underscores India’s continued push toward strengthening its national grid infrastructure while supporting its clean energy and industrial decarbonization goals.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.