India: The Committee of Directors on Investment on Projects of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has cleared three projects with a combined investment of $60 M (Rs.584.13 crore).
The approvals were granted during a meeting held on 15 May 2026. All three projects will be implemented under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) route.
These projects had earlier received approval from the National Committee on Transmission (NCT) and were later allocated to PGCIL by Central Transmission Utility of India Ltd (CTUIL).
One of the approved projects involves expansion of PGCIL’s Tuticorin-II GIS substation in Tamil Nadu through the addition of a 1×500 MVA, 400/230 kV interconnecting transformer. This will be the seventh transformer at the substation. The project is estimated to cost $13.6 M (Rs.132.06 crore) and is expected to be commissioned by 17 February 2028.
The remaining two projects relate to the installation of optical ground wire (OPGW) and associated communication systems on existing interstate transmission system (ISTS) lines. Of these, the Western Region project has been approved at a cost of Rs.308.49 crore, while the Eastern Region project involves an investment of $31.8 M (Rs.143.58 crore).
Both OPGW projects are planned for completion within 30 months and are scheduled for commissioning by September 18, 2028.
Meanwhile, according to available information, the NCT has also approved a similar OPGW project for the Northeastern Region grid. The project, estimated to cost around $1.9 M (Rs.18 crore), will also be executed by PGCIL under the RTM route.
Source: T&D India
PGCIL, RTM projects, transformer, substation, GIS
