Author: PPD Team Date: 08/02/2025
On October 19, 2023, Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) commissioned India’s largest 765kV transmission line, the Warora-Kurnool Transmission Project, spanning 1,756 circuit kilometres (ckm). This infrastructure strengthens the Southern Region (SR) by linking it with the Western and Northern grids. Officially named the “Additional Inter-Regional AC Link for Import Into Southern Region (Warora-Warangal and Chilakaluripeta-Hyderabad-Kurnool 765kV Link) Project,” it extends across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
The project is regulated by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and features a transformation capacity of 3,000 MVA. It operates under a 35-year Transmission Service Agreement (TSA). PFC Consulting Limited (PFCCL) served as the Bid Process Coordinator (BPC) for the project.
Project Overview: Key Components & Scale
Transmission Lines
- Warora Pool – Warangal (New) 765 kV double-circuit (D/c) line (350 km, 666 ckm) with 240 MVAr switchable line reactors at both ends.
- Warangal (New) – Hyderabad 765 kV D/c line (160 km, 270 ckm) with a 330 MVAr switchable line reactor at Warangal.
- Warangal (New) – Warangal (Existing) 400 kV quad D/c line (10 km, 108 ckm).
- Hyderabad – Kurnool 765 kV D/c line (170 km, 370 ckm) with a 240 MVAr switchable line reactor at Kurnool.
- Warangal (New) – Chilakaluripeta 765 kV D/c line (250 km, 478 ckm) with 240 MVAr switchable line reactors at both ends.
Substation Development
A 765/400 kV substation has been established at Warangal (New) with two 1,500 MVA transformers and two 240 MVAr bus reactors.
Additional Infrastructure
A 240 MVAr switchable line reactor has been installed at the Warora Pool end for each circuit of the Warora Pool – Rajnandgaon 765 kV D/c line.
Bay Requirements
- Six 765 kV line bays at Warangal (New).
- Two 765/400 kV transformer bays.
- Two 400 kV line bays.
- Space for six future 765 kV line bays and eight future 400 kV line bays.
Initially, the project also included the Cuddapah – Hoodi 400 kV quad D/c line (200 km) with 63 MVAr switchable line reactors at both ends, along with the Line-In Line-Out (LILO) of the Kurnool – Thiruvalam 765 kV D/c line at Cuddapah. However, these were later removed from the scope.
Timeline & Key Milestones
- March 26, 2015: PFC invited bids for consultancy services for surveying and preparing a project report using modern survey techniques. Geoinfosys Technologies and Prasad Surveyors were selected.
- April 20, 2015: Warora-Kurnool Transmission Limited (WKTL) was incorporated as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the project.
- April 23, 2015: PFC invited the initial Request for Qualification (RfQ) bids for selecting a transmission service provider (TSP).
- September 11, 2015: PFC issued a revised RfQ for TSP selection, with bids opened on October 12, 2015. The project followed a Build, Own, Operate, and Maintain (BOOM) model, with the TSP selected through the Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) process.
- November 18, 2015: Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), Sterlite Grid 3 Limited, Essel Infraprojects Limited (EIL), Adani Transmission Limited, and Reliance Power Transmission Limited (RPTL) were declared qualified bidders. All but RPTL submitted financial proposals.
- July 6, 2016: PFC transferred WKTL to EIL for project implementation.
- 2021: Adani Transmission Limited (ATL), now renamed AESL, acquired the project.
Stake Acquisition & Project Ownership
- Sekura Energy Limited, backed by the Edelweiss Infrastructure Yield Plus (EIYP) fund, signed an agreement to acquire a stake in the project for Rs 60 billion, with the transaction to be completed post-project completion.
- 2021: Adani Transmission acquired the project. After acquiring WKTL, Adani Energy used the Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) to add a spare 80 MVAr reactor at the Warangal substation for operational flexibility.
The project’s journey culminated on October 19, 2023, when Adani Energy successfully commissioned the Warora-Kurnool Transmission line. As demand surges, this project will remain pivotal to India’s economic and environmental goals.
Featured photograph is for representation only