POWERGRID commissions Gujarat ISTS transmission expansion project
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has commissioned the “Transmission Network Expansion in Gujarat to increase ATC from ISTS: Part-B” project aimed at strengthening transmission capacity in Gujarat.
According to a stock exchange filing, the project achieved commercial operation with effect from May 13, 2026, while the Notification for Commercial Operation (DOCO) was received on June 3, 2026.
The project is designed to increase Available Transfer Capacity (ATC) from the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) and improve power transfer capability and grid reliability in Gujarat.
Project scope
The transmission scheme was approved by the Ministry of Power in January 2022 based on recommendations of the seventh meeting of the National Committee on Transmission (NCT). The project was awarded to POWERGRID under the Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) route.
The project includes the establishment of a new 765/400/220 kV Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation at Navsari in south Gujarat.
The substation comprises two units of 1,500 MVA, 765/400 kV interconnecting transformers (ICTs), with provision for a third unit in the future, along with three units of 500 MVA, 400/220 kV ICTs.
The scope also includes eight 765 kV line bays, six 400 kV line bays, 16 units of 220 kV line bays, two 330 MVar 765 kV bus reactors, and one 125 MVar 400 kV bus reactor.
Transmission lines
The project includes 400 kV double-circuit transmission lines between Navsari and Kala over 110 km, along with a 63 MVar switchable line reactor at the Navsari end. Another 400 kV double-circuit line between Navsari and Magarwada spans 80 km with a conductor capacity of at least 2,100 MVA per circuit.
A 765 kV double-circuit transmission line between Navsari and Padghe over 200 km has also been developed, including a 330 MVar switchable line reactor at the Navsari end. At the Padghe GIS substation, the project includes augmentation through the addition of one 1,500 MVA, 765/400 kV ICT.
POWERGRID said the Navsari GIS substation was developed to minimise land requirements in a densely populated and industrialised region.
As part of coordinated implementation, Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) was assigned downstream intra-state connectivity works. These included loop-in loop-out (LILO) arrangements of both circuits of the 220 kV Navsari–Chikhli line and the 220 kV Navsari–Nasik line at the new Navsari GIS substation.
Recent project commissioning
The Gujarat project adds to a series of transmission projects commissioned by POWERGRID and its subsidiaries during 2026.
In March 2026, POWERGRID informed stock exchanges that it had commissioned the “Transmission System for Power Evacuation from Arun-3 (900 MW) HEP, Nepal of M/s SAPDC – Indian Portion.”
POWERGRID Narala Transmission Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, commissioned the “Transmission System Strengthening Scheme for evacuation of power from Solar Energy Zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase-II Part-G.” The company stated that the project was commissioned with effect from December 7, 2025, while the DOCO notification was received on February 24, 2026.
Another subsidiary, POWERGRID Khavda II-C Transmission Limited, achieved commercial operation of the “Transmission scheme for evacuation of 4.5 GW renewable energy injection at Khavda pooling station under Phase II Part C” with effect from January 31, 2026.
Similarly, POWERGRID Bhadla Sikar Transmission Limited (PBSTL) commissioned the “Transmission system strengthening scheme for evacuation of Power from Solar Energy Zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase II – Part E.” The DOCO for the project was received on January 16, 2026.
The featured photograph is for representation only.
