Mumbai power arrangement should suffice for a decade

Tata Power, R-Infra install additional transmission lines that's expected to increase power flow by 1,000 Mw

Mumbaikars should continue to get power without interruption for at least a decade more, with the installation of additional transmission lines by the two bulk suppliers, Tata Power and Reliance Infrastructure.

Of the present daily demand of 3,300 Mw (growing at three to four per cent yearly), 2,200 Mw is met by these two private companies; the rest is brought from outside the city. The peak demand was 3,600 Mw during 2014-15. Rhere are 600,000 consumers with Tata and another three million with R-Infra. Another 900,000 get it through the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation.

The recent completion of Tata's Padghe-Vikhroli transmission line and additional lines between Kalwa and Salsette enabled flow of an additional 500 Mw. R-Infra has asked the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) to amend its transmission license to enable an interconnection on its existing line from its Dahanu unit (in neighbouring Thane district). This would enable another 1,000 Mw from outside the state to the city; Reliance expects the needed work on the project to take two years.

Ashok Pendse, consumer representative at MERC, told this newspaper: ''The amount of power that can be generated in Mumbai is limited due to pollution control norms. The increase in demand will have to be met from outside the city. What is necessary is increase in transmission capacity, mainly by Tata and R-Infra.''

R-Infra's petition says the interconnection would also improve the existing transmission system, by reducing the load on the Aarey-Borivli line, beside other positive effects. It has also urged it be granted the amended transmission licence for 25 years.

Tata Power says it has done planning till the 2026 need to cater to Mumbai’s load growth. In line with this, it has started work on installation of a 400 Kv station at Vikhroli and 400 Kv transmission lines from Kharghar/Nagothane to Vikhroli. The company says it has invested nearly Rs 1,000 crore in the past three to four years.