The completion of the Raichur–Solapur 765 kV power transmission line, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation on Saturday, will help power-starved southern States, including Karnataka, draw more power from other regional grids.
It will ensure a full-fledged synchronous interconnection with other regional grids of the country, besides increasing the inter-regional transmission capacity.
This transmission line is part of two such lines. The other Raichur–Solapur line was commissioned in December 2013.
Experts say it will help tide over power shortage during peak hours and summer, besides allowing export of excess power during off-peak hours as well as rainy season.
Lack of proper inter-regional transmission link has made optimal utilisation of power a challenge in India, where some areas suffer from outages while some others have excess power as weather pattern is not uniform.
Senior officials of the power sector say that even this line may not be enough as the demand has outgrown the combined transmission capacity being offered by the two Raichur–Solapur lines.
“The new transmission line may at best help in taking care of the power requirements of one State in the southern region and not all the States,” says Mr. P. Ravikumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy.
He expressed concern that Karnataka may not get the opportunity this season to use this line for getting power from other regions as other competing southern States have applied ahead of Karnataka for permission to draw power from this line. Transmission rights for states will be determined on a first come, first served basis. Karnataka has been requesting the Centre to further increase the inter-regional transmission capacity of southern power grid in tune with the ever growing demand for power, he pointed out.
