Maharashtra approves Rs 291 crore Pune Ring Main strengthening plan

The Maharashtra Transmission Committee (MTC) has approved a revised Rs 291.95 crore strengthening plan for the 220 kV Pune Ring Main Transmission Network, along with new substations at Balewadi, Loni Kalbhor and Chinchvihire to address rising electricity demand and transmission loading.

The Pune Ring Main scheme includes 10.206 km of 220 kV double-circuit line from Talegaon Ambi Substation to Urse, 11.558 km of multi-circuit line from Urse to the Chinchwad-Urse line, and conversion of approximately 19 km of existing single-circuit lines to multi-circuit configuration.

The strengthened network will provide a second source to the 220 kV Chinchwad-I and 220 kV Hinjewadi MIDC Phase-II substations serving Pune’s expanding IT and industrial corridor.

New substations

At Balewadi in Pune, MTC approved Rs 175.46 crore for a new 220/33 kV substation to serve Baner, Balewadi and Aundh, where annual load growth exceeds 13%. The scheme includes 2×50 MVA, 220/22 kV transformers and 5.026 km of transmission connectivity, comprising 3.601 km of overhead line and 1.425 km of underground cable, along with associated Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) bays.

A Rs 127.00 crore, 220/22 kV substation at Loni Kalbhor has been approved to cater to the proposed township of Riverview City Construction Ltd., which has an 80 MVA connected load, as well as surrounding areas. The facility will have 2×50 MVA transformers, 6.1 km of transmission line using the existing 220 kV Theur-Magarpatta corridor and GIS bays.

At Chinchvihire in Ahilyanagar, a Rs 98.30 crore, 220/33 kV substation will be established to relieve the existing 132 kV Rahuri Substation, which is loaded at approximately 196.80 MVA. The new substation will cater to 88.15 MVA of load and is expected to reduce transmission system losses by approximately 6.5 MW.

Capacity upgrades

MTC approved Rs 13.73 crore to replace one 50 MVA transformer at Five Star MIDC Substation in Kagal with a 100 MVA, 220/33 kV unit, with existing transformers operating at up to 95% capacity.

At Tuljapur, Rs 44.21 crore was approved to replace 2×100 MVA with 2×200 MVA, 220/132 kV Inter-Connecting Transformers (ICTs). The augmentation will support renewable energy evacuation, including 268 MW from JSW Neo Energy Ltd. At Satara MIDC, Rs 16.66 crore was approved to replace a 100 MVA ICT with a 200 MVA, 220/132 kV unit to address loading above 86% and ensure N-1 compliance.

At Nagothane Substation in Vashi Zone, MTC approved Rs 44.24 crore for replacement of 3×105 MVA with 3×167 MVA, 400/220/33 kV ICT-1 to accommodate 1,025 MVA of additional industrial load from major consumers including JSW, Reliance, GAIL and MSL.

The Volkswagen Substation at Chakan will also receive a 22 kV level through a Rs 34.70 crore scheme comprising 2×50 MVA transformers and 12 outgoing GIS feeder bays to support industrial growth in Chakan MIDC.

MTC further approved Rs 13.34 crore to replace 0.4 ACSR Zebra conductor across 3.087 ckm of the 220 kV Talegaon Ambi-PGCIL corridor, where continuous loading has reached 600-650 A against a capacity of 747 A. Another Rs 10.72 crore will be used to replace existing 0.2 ACSR and 200 sq.mm AAAC conductors across 6.8 ckm of the 132 kV Magarpatta-Mundhwa corridor, where loading has reached 839 A against a capacity of 487 A.

The featured photograph is for representation only.