To be implemented by Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra on a build, own, operate & maintain basis at the cost of Rs 7,500 cr
To be commissioned by 2025-26 as per the conditions laid down in the government order
Expects to partially address the Mumbai transmission constraints
Mumbai: After two major power failures in October 2020 and February 2022 in Mumbai, the state government has finally cleared the implementation of 80km +/-320 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line between Kudus and Aarey Colony to be built by Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra (AEMI). This will help evacuate 1000MW power from outside to meet the ever-rising demand for power in Mumbai.
According to the energy department deputy secretary, Prashant Badgeri, in the government order, “The project will be developed on build, own, operate and maintain basis. The project has been cleared under section 68 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and it will be mandatory for Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra to implement it as per the conditions.”
Another official said the project got clearance based on the licence granted by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) that came into force on March 21, 2021, authorizing Adani Electricity Mumbai Infra (the transmission licence) to build, own, operate and maintain the 1,000MW HVDC link for a period of 25 years (up to March 20, 2046). The project cost is estimated at Rs 7,500 crore.
An Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd spokesperson said, “The Kudus Aarey HVDC transmission line is a landmark project for strengthening Mumbai’s Transmission System and will allow Adani Electricity to significantly leapfrog renewable energy supply to up to 60 per cent of Mumbai’s demand.”
As per the order, the AEMI will operate and maintain the transmission line and utilise it for the purpose as mentioned in the government order. The company will have to obtain pre-approval from the competent authority before its commissioning.
According to the government order, the AEMI will expedite project development and address the grievances of farmers and landowners in consultation with the competent authority. Further, it will be binding on the AEMI to pay due compensation to farmers/landowners for the area occupied by the transmission towers and the land under the transmission corridor.
As reported by The Free Press Journal, the Kudus-Aarey transmission line is one of the projects which has been under discussion, to eliminate power transmission constraints in Mumbai and thereby avoid major grid failures and outages. The project is expected to be completed by 2025-26.
Energy expert Ashok Pendse said, “The eastern corridor from Vikhroli to Navi Mumbai has been strengthened, the western corridor is a dire necessity. Kudus-Aarey has got the approval. But the crux of the issue is the implementation and under no circumstances is delay acceptable, as the survival of Mumbaikars is at stake.”
Another important project is the 400kV Kharghar-Vikhroli double-circuit line being developed by Kharghar Vikhroli Transmission Pvt (KVTPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Transmission. The line, spanning 74km and with a power transmission capacity of 1,000MW is estimated to cost Rs 1,890 crore.
The MERC has already appointed a monitoring committee headed by the former PowerGrid Corporation chairman RP Singh to monitor the progress of the implementation of identified transmission schemes, including Kudus-Aarey, and to also monitor other action points as per the recommendations of the High-Level Committee (HLC) and highlight deviations from the approved implementation plan submitted by the implementing entity.
