Sterlite Power, one of India’s largest power transmission sector players, has announced commissioning of the 414 km long Northern Region Strengthening Scheme 29 (NRSS 29), its flagship project critical for meeting the power requirements of the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

The ₹3,000 crore project executed by NRSS XXIX Transmission Limited, the PSV of Sterlite Power, includes commissioning of three 400 kV Double Circuit transmission lines and one 400/220 kV GIS Substation to deliver over 1,000 MW of electricity from Punjab to the Kashmir Valley by strengthening the National Grid.

The transmission line—conceived by the government back in 2012—will improve access to power in the Valley by augmenting the State’s power transmission capacity by at least 33 per cent, the company noted.

In 2014, Sterlite bagged the project quoting the lowest levelised transmission charges, outbidding Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) in the process. Post commissioning, the company will operate and maintain the transmission line for a minimum tenure of 35 years.

The line has been commissioned two months ahead of schedule despite terrain challenges, the company said adding that it used helicranes in the Pir Panjal range to overcome challenges of high altitude, snow and inaccessible terrains.

According to Pratik Agarwal, Group CEO, Sterlite Power, the NRSS 29 project fits into the company’s approach to execute projects that would address the toughest challenges of energy delivery. “We have surmounted numerous challenges to finish this project ahead of schedule and feel very proud of the social impact it’ll have in the Valley,” he said.

According to Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, Global Infrastructure, Sterlite Power, the evacuation of 1,000 MW shall play a vital role in addressing the power deficit in the region, especially during winter months when the region suffers from blackouts.

Sterlite Power Grid Ventures, demerged from Vedanta Group firm Sterlite Technologies in 2016, currently operates power transmission projects of over 12,500 circuit kms and 20,500 Mega Volt Ampere (MVA) capacity in India and Brazil.

Last year, the company has launched IndiGrid infrastructure investment trust (InvIT), the second InvIT in the country after IRB Infrastructure’s IRB InvIT and the first InvIT in the power transmission space.

IndiGrid currently has a portfolio of 16 independent revenue-generating assets, including 13 transmission lines of 3,361 ckms and 3 substations of 7,000 MVA capacity across 9 states in India. Once the operations of J&K transmission line gets stabilised, it could as well be transferred to the InvIT.