Srinagar, Oct 18 (KNS): The alternate transmission project awarded by the union government in 2014 was commissioned in Jammu and Kashmir by Sterlite Power, one of India’s largest power transmission sector players.
The line is considered to be one of critical for meeting the power requirements of the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
The ?3,000 crore project executed by NRSS XXIX Transmission Limited, the PSV of Sterlite Power, includes commissioning of three 400 kV Double Circuit transmission lines and one 400/220 kV GIS Substation to deliver over 1,000 MW of electricity from Punjab to the Kashmir Valley by strengthening the National Grid.
Vaid Mani Tiwari, CEO Global Infrastructure, sterlite power told reporters here that the NRSS 29 transmission project awarded by the union government in 2014 was commissioned two months ahead of the schedule. “The current union Government had designed this project in order to provide reliable power to the valley by building this alternate line. The evacuation of 1,000 MW shall play a vital role in addressing the power deficit in the region, especially during the winter months. Lot of credit must go to the people of J&K, local administration and the Union government towards early completion of this project.” he said.
He said that the transmission line conceived by the government back in 2012will improve access to power in the Valley by augmenting the State’s power transmission capacity by at least 33 per cent.
In 2014, Sterlite bagged the project quoting the lowest levelised transmission charges, outbidding Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) in the process. Post commissioning, the company will operate and maintain the transmission line for a minimum tenure of 35 years.
The line has been commissioned two months ahead of schedule despite terrain challenges, the CEO said adding that it used helicranes in the Pir Panjal range to overcome challenges of high altitude, snow and inaccessible terrains.
According to CEo, the NRSS 29 project fits into the company’s approach to execute projects that would address the toughest challenges of energy delivery. “We have surmounted numerous challenges to finish this project ahead of schedule and feel very proud of the social impact it’ll have in the Valley,” he said.
Sterlite Power Grid Ventures, demerged from Vedanta Group firm Sterlite Technologies in 2016, currently operates power transmission projects of over 12,500 circuit kms and 20,500 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) capacity in India and Brazil.
Last year, the company has launched IndiGrid infrastructure investment trust (InvIT), the second InvIT in the country after IRB Infrastructure’s IRB InvIT and the first InvIT in the power transmission space.
IndiGrid currently has a portfolio of 16 independent revenue-generating assets, including 13 transmission lines of 3,361 ckms and 3 substations of 7,000 MVA capacity across 9 states in India. Once the operations of J&K transmission line gets stabilised, it could as well be transferred to the InvIT. (KNS)