Government approves transmission projects worth Rs 12,500 crore

NEW DELHI: Government has approved nine new transmission projects with an aggregate cost of over Rs 12,500 crore to fast track building of high capacity inter-state power transmission lines.

"These Rs 12,500 crore transmission projects will benefit several states including Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra by enabling high capacity lines carrying up to 2,100 MW power each apart from construction of new transmission substations," an official statement said.

The projects will help evacuate power from central generating stations such as 660 MW Sipat of NTPC, 1,600 MW Gadarwara and private sector generating stations such as Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project.

"Congestion will also be reduced in Haryana by the strengthening of the Northern Transmission system," the statement said.

These projects were mainly stuck in the approval process in the government since last several months.

At present, the total inter-regional transmission capacity of about 28,000 MW will be added in the next 3 years so that the total capacity is enhanced to more than 66,000 MW by 2017.