CERC grants transmission licences for five interstate projects

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved transmission licences for five interstate transmission projects. The approvals include two projects under the Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) awarded to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) subsidiaries and three competitive bid projects granted to Adani Energy Solutions Limited, Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd., and another PGCIL subsidiary.

On 26 October 2025, CERC granted separate RTM transmission licences to POWERGRID Kurawar Transmission Limited (PKTL) and POWERGRID Bikaner IV Transmission Limited through orders issued in Petition Nos. 689/TL/2025 and 686/TL/2025. The orders were passed by a Coram comprising Chairperson Shri Jishnu Barua and Members Shri Ramesh Babu V., Shri Harish Dudani, and Shri Ravinder Singh Dhillon.

POWERGRID Kurawar Transmission Limited received a licence for the “Network expansion at 765/400/220 kV Kurawar substation for drawal of power by MPPTCL.” The project involves establishing four 220 kV and nine 132 kV line bays at the Kurawar substation. The total cost is estimated at Rs 56.06 crore, with completion due by 15 October 2026. The scheme will connect the downstream network of Madhya Pradesh Power Transmission Company Limited (MPPTCL). CERC noted that the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) had assigned the project to PKTL under RTM mode through an Office Memorandum dated 20 January 2025. No objections were received during the public consultation process.

POWERGRID Bikaner IV Transmission Limited was granted a licence for a two-part augmentation project. The first part involves installing 2×500 MVA, 400/220 kV interconnecting transformers (ICTs) and related bays at Bikaner-IV pooling station, while the second part covers the creation of three 220 kV line bays for the interconnection of renewable projects by Furies Solren Private Limited (300 MW) and SJVN Green Energy Limited (500 MW). The augmentation cost is Rs 122.88 crore with a 21-month completion target, while the 220 kV bay works cost Rs 18.54 crore and are scheduled for completion by 11 November 2026. CTUIL assigned these works through OMs dated 5 and 8 May 2025.

During the hearing, CTUIL highlighted a three-month mismatch between the commissioning date of the bay for Furies Solren (11 November 2026) and the developer’s connectivity start date (5 February 2027). CERC noted the issue and permitted the parties to approach the Commission for resolution if required.

Earlier, on 24 October 2025, CERC also granted transmission licences for three major interstate projects. The first was awarded to WRNES Talegaon Power Transmission Limited for a Western Region network expansion scheme catering to pumped storage potential near Talegaon, Pune. Adani Energy Solutions Limited secured the project through competitive bidding on a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) basis, with annual transmission charges of Rs 2,214.45 million. The project includes a 2×1500 MVA, 765/400 kV substation and related infrastructure, with a commercial operation date of 1 January 2028.

The second licence went to Raghanesda RE Transmission Limited, a subsidiary of Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd., for the transmission system enabling evacuation of 3 GW renewable energy from the Raghanesda area in Gujarat (Phase I). The BOOT-based project, awarded at annual transmission charges of Rs 2,328.71 million, includes a 4×1500 MVA, 765/400 kV substation and associated lines, with completion expected within 27 to 36 months.

The third approval was granted to POWERGRID Bhuj Transmission Limited under RTM for augmenting transformation capacity at the Bhuj-II pooling station, including ICT augmentation and installation of a bus reactor. The project, estimated at Rs 428 crore and Rs 587 crore for its respective parts, aims to strengthen renewable evacuation infrastructure from the Bhuj region, with completion expected within 21 months.

All five licences have been issued for 25 years, subject to compliance with the Electricity Act, 2003, and the CERC (Procedure, Terms and Conditions for Grant of Transmission Licence and other related matters) Regulations, 2024. Licensees are required to pay prescribed fees, comply with load dispatch centre directions, provide non-discriminatory open access, and refrain from electricity trading. CTUIL and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) will monitor implementation and report any lapses to the Commission. Extracts of the orders have been forwarded to the Ministry of Power and the CEA for record.

The featured photograph is for representation only.