Govt plans five power transmission lines worth Rs 6,485 cr

The government is planning to set up five new power transmission lines with private sector participation at an estimated cost of Rs 6,485 crore (worth over $1.4 billion).

These planned transmission lines would help power evacuation from proposed coastal generation projects in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The total cost for setting up these lines would be Rs 6,485 crore, an official statement said today.

"The Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Power for development of inter-state transmission lines has recommended setting up of five new transmission lines with an estimated length of 2,600 kilometre," it noted.

These projects, which would be awarded through tariff-based competitive bidding process, are expected to be completed in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17).

These lines would help in evacuating power from projects in Nagapattanam and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu as well as from gas-based generation projects in Vemagiri and Rajamundry areas in Andhra Pradesh.

Among them, three transmission lines at an estimated cost of Rs 3,640 crore, would be for power evacuation from planned projects in Andhra Pradesh.

Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the approval for development of new transmission lines with the private sector participation would help in strengthening power transmission system.

Already many power transmission projects have been awarded through Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation.

The power sector is expected to see investments to the tune of $300-400 billion in the 12th plan.