Sector: Power
Length: 4,040 ckt. km
Investment: Rs 147 billion
Ownership: Government (central)
States: Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh
Implementing agency: Power Grid Corporation of India Limited
Expected completion: 2020-21
Among the longest UHVDC links in the world, the Rs 147 billion bipole link will be built by transmission major Powergrid between the western region (Raigarh, Chhattisgarh) and the southern region (Pugalur, Tamil Nadu). The project’s objective is to improve the import capability of the southern region, which faces a power deficit due to delays in many anticipated generation projects. The ±800 kV, 6,000 MW HVDC link will have terminals at Raigarh and Pugalur along with a 2,000 MW VSC-based HVDC link between Pugalur and north Trichur. Testing of Pole 1 and Pole 2 of the HVDC link has been completed while Bipole 1 and the associated AC line are expected to be commissioned soon. Meanwhile, Bipole 2, associated lines and the VSC terminal are likely to be completed by December 2020.