NCT clears Rs 9,980 crore transmission schemes in eastern and western regions

The National Committee on Transmission (NCT) has approved two major transmission schemes with a combined cost of about Rs 9,980 crore to strengthen grid reliability, support generation evacuation, and enable inter-regional power flows. The approvals were issued on February 25, 2026.

Eastern corridor: Kolkata reliability and Nabinagar evacuation
NCT recommended implementation of ERES-47, the Nawada-Durgapur-Jeerat (New) 765 kV corridor, at an estimated cost of Rs 5,270.09 crore through tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) with REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) as bid process coordinator (BPC). The scheme has a target completion date of March 31, 2029.

The project completes a planned 765 kV ring in the Eastern Region, aimed at improving supply reliability in the Kolkata area and enabling inter-state transmission system (ISTS) connectivity for NTPC’s 2,400 MW Nabinagar Super Thermal Power Project (STPP) Stage-II.

The approved scope includes a new 765/400/220 kV substation at Nawada in Bihar, a 765 kV switching station at Durgapur in West Bengal, line-in-line-out (LILO) of the Gaya-Ballia 765 kV single circuit (S/C) line at Nawada, a 258 km Nawada-Durgapur 765 kV double circuit (D/C) line, a 152 km Durgapur-Jeerat 765 kV D/C line, and extension works at Jeerat.

The Nawada substation will also facilitate 1,200 MW ISTS connectivity for Nabinagar STPP Stage-II. Bihar State Power Transmission Company Limited (BSPTCL) has been tasked with associated downstream infrastructure.

Due to land constraints at the existing Durgapur substation operated by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), NCT approved development of a new switching station at a separate location, while existing substation extensions will be implemented under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM). The scheme is classified as system strengthening and generation evacuation, not as a National Component-RE project.

Western scheme: pumped storage and new SR-WR corridor
NCT also approved the “Network Expansion Scheme in Western Region to cater to pumped storage potential near Satara (up to 4,500 MW)” at an estimated cost of Rs 4,710.17 crore (Part-A) under TBCB with Power Finance Corporation Consulting Limited (PFCCL) as BPC. A smaller Part-B component of Rs 22.60 crore will be implemented by POWERGRID under RTM.

The scheme supports evacuation and grid integration for pumped storage projects (PSPs), including the 1,800 MW Tarali PSP and the 1,800 MW Nivakane PSP, and is designed for a total potential of up to 4,500 MW in the Satara region.

It also establishes a new 765 kV inter-regional corridor between the Southern Region and Western Region along the Narendra (New)-Kolhapur-Satara-Pune-III/Pune (East) route, enabling power flow from Karnataka to load centres in Pune and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Phase-I, targeted for March 31, 2029, includes upgradation of the Narendra-Kolhapur line to 765 kV, development of a new 765/400 kV substation at Satara, and LILO of the Pune-III to Pune (East) 765 kV D/C line at Satara. Phase-II, targeted for December 31, 2029, adds a Kolhapur-Satara 765 kV D/C line, additional transformation capacity, and bus section expansion.

Planning studies have incorporated reactive power support requirements, including the use of synchronous condensers at the Satara generation complex. The scheme was endorsed by the Western Regional Power Committee (WRPC) and Southern Regional Power Committee (SRPC) prior to NCT approval.

The featured photograph is for representation only.