The country’s largest private developer of independent Power Transmission Systems, Sterlite Power Grid Ventures Limited (Sterlite Grid) and the global leader in Transmission and Distribution Engineering, Burns & McDonnell International, Inc. have signed an agreement to apply world class engineering and construction methodologies on Transmission Projects in India. Sterlite Grid and Burns & McDonnell will be initially working on Northern Region System Strengthening 29 (NRSS 29) Project, which will carry 2,000 megawatts (MW) power to energy starved region of Kashmir Valley from the power-surplus state of Punjab.
Sterlite Grid will invest close to Rs 3,000 Crore towards this critical asset comprising of 900 circuit kilometres (Ckm) of Transmission lines and 400 kilovolt (kV) Gas Insulated Substation (GIS) at Amargarh. Responding to the urgency expressed by the Central and State governments, Sterlite Grid has committed to implement this 50 months project in less than 40 months.
“We, at Sterlite Grid, are committed to a cause that not a single unit of electricity should remain unused due to the lack of transmission infrastructure. To achieve this, we would like to eliminate transmission line delays by delivering these projects in half the benchmark time. Our partnership with Burns and McDonnell will help us achieve this goal by bringing cutting edge technologies to India.” said Pratik Agarwal – Vice Chairman, Sterlite Grid.
Due to extreme climatic conditions in Jammu & Kashmir, there will be a limited window for construction. Sterlite Grid will work with Burns & McDonnell to implement innovative designs and mechanised construction, which may include Heli-crane construction, micro-pile foundations, and special tower designs that would enable the project to be commissioned faster. Earlier this year, Sterlite Grid became the first ever private enterprise awarded by the Ministry of Power for early commissioning of Transmission Systems – 765 /400 kV – 2x 1500 MVA substation at Dhule.
“Burns & McDonnell is excited about the opportunity to work with Team Sterlite Grid on this challenging project in Kashmir Valley,” says Jim Hogan, Senior Vice President of Burns & McDonnell’s Transmission & Distribution Division. “Our engineers and construction specialists are committed to exploring methods to reduce the time needed to construct this important Transmission Line which will strengthen the electric grid and bring much needed power to Jammu & Kashmir.”
The Central Government has set a vision to augment and expand the power transmission infrastructure in the country, and attract private investments for building transmission systems. It also wants to commit that capital intensive power plants like thermal and solar plants do not remain stranded due to delay in power evacuation.
Keeping in mind the Govt. of India’s ambitious mission to generate 100,000 MW Solar Power across the country, it is of utmost importance that Transmission infrastructure is constructed in the least possible time to match the short development time frame of Solar Plants. Sterlite Grid expects that Transmission systems will have to be constructed on an accelerated time schedule of 12-16 months, compared to current average of 30-40 months.
