Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Nov 23: The ongoing work on building India’s one of the largest transmission project for alternate power exchange route between Northern Grid and the Kashmir Valley, is all set to be completed by the end of this year, around 10 months ahead of scheduled deadline for the same.
Second and last phase (Element-II) of Northern Region System Strengthening Project of laying 400 KV transmission line from Samba to Amargarh in Pattan, Kashmir (280 kms), is also expected to be finished around 10 months before the scheduled time like phase I (Element-I) of the mega project, from Jalandhar to Samba (134 kms), which was completed in June last year, 12 months before the deadline, official sources told the Excelsior.
Further, sources added, Civil work at the 400/200 KV Amargarh Sub-Station has been completed and installation, testing and commissioning of the machinery are going on while only 24 transmission towers, out of 1150 total, are left to be erected.
All the required equipments and machinery have been successfully transported to the required destinations and only 10 percent work is pending for completion of the Power project, which will take hardly one and half month, sources explained.
Once completed, the mega transmission project will enable more than 1000 MW of power exchange between J&K and the Northern Grid thus providing relief to the State by ensuring continuous power to J&K even during extreme weather conditions. It will also give provision for further expansion to meet the growing energy needs of the States.
Pertinent to mention that Kashmir faces acute power shortage of 750 MW in winter and this project will increase supply of power by 1000 MW. “We are determined to build the project 10 months ahead of schedule so that load shedding can be avoided this winter.” said a top official of the Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd, which is executing this project on Build Own Operate & Maintenance (BOOM) basis for the next 35 years.
The Samba Sub-Station on this transmission line is already catering to Samba, Jammu and Akhnoor areas since its commissioning last year while the Jammu Kashmir Power Development Department is evaluating and working on the plan for another sub-station at Rajouri, sources informed.
The line passes through 11 major towns and districts of J&K, including Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri, Reasi, Poonch, Shopian, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla, affecting lives of over 1.25 crores of population. The multiplier effects of power will also boost the State’s economy by creating employment, promoting business and attracting new growth avenues.
The project includes 450 kms of transmission lines and 400/220 KV gas insulated substations at Amargarh in Kashmir. Nearly 1,150 towers have been erected in some of the most challenging terrains of the Pir Panjal range in the inner Himalayan region.
This ambitious venture, called the Northern Region System Strengthening 29 (NRSS 29) Project, thus assumes critical significance for the power-starved region. It is the largest private sector transmission project awarded in the country.
It may be recalled that during April-December, Jammu & Kashmir suffers power shortage of around 15 per cent, the highest shortfall among all States and Union Territories in the country. The early completion of this vital power transmission line will avoid load shedding during the peak time.
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