Parliament Question: Projects to increase Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Capacity

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3209 ANSWERED ON 06.08.2026 PROJECTS TO INCREASE POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION CAPACITY †3209. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is implementing any new action plan to increase power generation, transmission and distribution capacity in the country by the year 2030, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the projects sanctioned for the development of power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure in Bihar during the last five years; (c) whether the Government proposes to establish new high-capacity grid substations and transmission lines in the Kosi-Seemanchal region of Bihar, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the time-frame fixed for implementation of such projects? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK) (a): Government of India has taken the following actions to increase power generation, transmission and distribution capacity in the country: 1. Generation and Storage Planning: (i) As per National Electricity Plan (Generation), installed generation capacity in 2031-32 is likely to be 874 GW. With a view to ensure generation capacity remains ahead of projected demand, all the States, in consultation with CEA, have prepared their “Resource Adequacy Plans (RAPs)”, which are dynamic 10-year rolling plans and includes power generation as well as power procurement planning.(ii) All the States were advised to initiate process for creating/ contracting generation capacities; from all generation sources, as per their Resource Adequacy Plans. (iii) In order to augment the power generation capacity, the Government of India has initiated following capacity addition programme: a. Thermal Capacity Addition: The projected thermal (coal and lignite) capacity requirement by the year 2035–36 is estimated at approximately 3,15,000 MW as against the 2,11,855 MW installed capacity as on 31.03.2023. To meet this requirement, Ministry of Power has envisaged to set up an additional minimum 1,05,000 MW coal and lignite based thermal capacity. Accordingly, Thermal capacities of around 21,080 MW have been commissioned since April 2023 till 30.06.2026. In addition, 47,545 MW of thermal capacity (including 4,845 MW of stressed thermal power projects) is currently under construction. The contracts of 16,000 MW have been awarded and are due for construction. b. Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has projected hydro power capacity addition of about 16,448 MW during the period 2026–27 to 2031– 32. Of this, 400 MW has been commissioned as on 30.06.2026 and 12,973 MW are presently under construction. c. Nuclear Capacity Addition: 8,000 MW of Nuclear Capacity is under construction and targeted to be completed by 2031-32. 5,600 MW of Nuclear Capacity is under various stages of planning and approval. d. Renewables Capacity Addition: 1,47,720 MW Renewable Capacity including 119,580 MW of Solar (including Hybrid-Solar) and 27,720 MW of Wind (including Hybrid-wind) is under construction while 47,830 MW of Renewable Capacity including 44,440 MW of Solar is at various stages of planning and targeted to be completed by 2029-30. e. Addition of Energy Storage Systems: As on 30.06.2026, 15,870 MW/95,220 MWh Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are under construction. Further, a total of 6,580 MW/39,480 MWh capacity of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) are concurred and yet to be taken up for construction. As on 30.06.2026, 15,754 MW / 42,530 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity are under construction, 11,747 MW / 38,425 MWh has been awarded and 19,192 MW / 67,574 MWh BESS capacity are under tendering stage. 2. Promotion of Renewable Energy (RE) Generation: (i) 100% Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges have been waived for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025 (with waiver tapering off 25% annually till June 2028), for co-located BESS projects commissioned by June2028, for Hydro PSP projects where construction work awarded by June 2028, for Green Hydrogen Projects commissioned till December 2030 and for offshore wind projects commissioned till December 2032. (ii) Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar, Wind, Wind-Solar Hybrid and Firm & Dispatchable RE (FDRE) projects have been issued. (iii) Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) are regularly inviting bids for procurement of RE power. (iv) Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been permitted up to 100 percent under the automatic route. (v) To augment transmission infrastructure needed for steep RE trajectory, transmission plan has been prepared till 2032. (vi) Laying of new intrastate transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity has been supported under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power. (vii) Scheme for setting up of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power projects is being implemented to provide land and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at large scale. (viii) Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules, New Solar Power Scheme (for Tribal and PVTG Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) and Dharti Aabha Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JGUA), National Green Hydrogen Mission, Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Offshore Wind Energy Projects have been launched. (ix) To encourage RE consumption, Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) followed by Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) trajectory has been notified till 2029-30. The RCO which is applicable to all designated consumers under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 will attract penalties on non-compliance. (x) “Strategy for Establishment of Offshore Wind Energy Projects” has been issued. (xi) Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) has been launched to facilitate sale of Renewable Energy Power through exchanges. (xii) Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been launched to achieve the objective of localization of supply chain for solar PV Modules.3. Transmission: Inter and Intra-State Transmission System has been planned and implementation of the same is taken up in matching time frame of generation capacity addition. As per the National Electricity Plan (Transmission), about 1,91,474 ckm of transmission lines and 1,274 GVA of transformation capacity is planned to be added (at 220 kV and above voltage level) during the ten-year period from 2022-23 to 2031-32. In addition to the above, the Ministry of Power has issued guidelines dated 14.06.2024, 21.03.2025 and 15.12.2025 regarding the payment of compensation for Right of Way (RoW) for transmission lines, wherein the land rate has been linked to the prevailing market rate. These guidelines address the key challenges of RoW arising from landowners demanding higher compensation than the rates determined by the State Government 4. Distribution : Government of India has supplemented the efforts of the States earlier through schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) and currently under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), to help them achieve the objective of providing quality and reliable supply of power. Government of India launched RDSS in July 2021 with the objective of improving the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution Sector. The scheme has an outlay of Rs. 3,03,758 Cr. and estimated Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) from Central Government of Rs. 97,631 Cr. Under the scheme, financial assistance is being provided to the Distribution Utilities (excluding Private Sector Utilities) for loss reduction infrastructure works and smart metering works. Projects worth Rs. 1.53 lakh crore for loss reduction infrastructure and Rs. 1.31 lakh crore for smart metering works have been sanctioned under the scheme which would help improve the reliability and quality of power supply in the country. In addition to above, to support the power distribution utilities to improve their Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses some of the key initiatives taken, in addition to RDSS, are as under: (i) Additional Borrowing consent of 0.5% of Gross Sate Domestic Product (GSDP) to State Governments, which is conditional on them undertaking specific reforms in the power sector.(ii) Additional Prudential Norms for sanctioning of loans to State owned power utilities contingent on the performance of power distribution utilities against prescribed conditions. (iii) Rules for implementation of Fuel and Power Purchase Cost Adjustment (FPPCA) and cost reflective tariff so as to ensure that all prudent cost for supply of electricity is passed through. (iv) Rules and Standard Operating Procedure issued for proper subsidy accounting and their timely payment. (b): The details of the projects sanctioned for the development of power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure in Bihar during the last five years are given below: I. Generation: The detail of thermal power project sanctioned in the state of Bihar in the last five years is given at Annexure-I. No Hydroelectric projects / Pumped Storage Projects in the state of Bihar were concurred by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) during the last 5 years. In addition, no nuclear project has been planned in the last five years. II. Transmission: To cater to the future, Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) requirements in the State of Bihar, about 1,016 ckm transmission lines along with reconductoring of about 468 ckm, about 8,200 MVA transformation capacity augmentation, and 500 MW HVDC back-to-back refurbishment/upgradation at Pusauli are under construction / under planning. The details of major schemes under ISTS which have been approved in last five years along with its implementation status viz. completed, under construction, under bidding & under planning are as under: 1. ISTS Substations (S/s) Completed: i. Creation of 220 kV level at existing 400/132 kV Banka (New) (POWERGRID), ii. Creation of 220 kV level at existing 400/132 kV Lakhisarai (New) (POWERGRID). 2. Under construction: i. Reconductoring of Kahalgaon – Farakka 400 kV Double circuit (D/c) line with High Tension Low Sag (HTLS) conductor: ii. Upgradation of Pusauli 1x500 MW HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) Back-to-Back to 2x500 MW with SiC VSC (Silicon Carbide Voltage Source Converter) based HVDC Back-to-Back: iii. Diameter completion at Sasaram (POWERGRID) S/s3. Under bidding: Establishment of Nawada (ISTS) 765/400/220 kV S/s including associated lines viz. LILO of Gaya – Balia 765 kV Single circuit (S/c) line at Nawada (ISTS) S/s & Nawada (ISTS) – Durgapur (New) – Jeerat (ISTS) 765 kV D/c line. Further, it is to mention that ISTS augmentation is being carried out on continuous basis in Bihar commensurate with generation addition, demand growth, and as per drawl requirement of state from ISTS network. III. Distribution: Under RDSS Scheme, works of Rs. 10,559 Crores for distribution infrastructure works and Rs. 2,021 Crores for smart metering works have been sanctioned for the State of Bihar. Sanctioned distribution infrastructure works include upgradation / augmentation of sub-stations and distribution transformers, upgrading of conductors, laying of ABC / covered conductors, segregation of mixed-load feeders, etc. All the distribution schemes are scheduled to be completed within sanctioned period i.e. by 31stMarch, 2028. (c) & (d) : As per the Resource Adequacy Plan (Transmission) for Bihar, the details of upcoming grid substations and transmission lines in the Kosi- Seemanchal region of Bihar along with tentative time frame is given at Annexure-II. ***************ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3209 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 06.08.2026 ************* The detail of thermal power project taken up for implementation in the state of Bihar in the last five years: Sl. Implementing Unit Capacity Project Name LOA Date No. Agency No. (MW) U-4 800 Nabinagar Super 1 Thermal Power Project, NTPC March 2025 U-5 800 Stage-II U-6 800 U-1 800 Pirpainti Ultra- 2 Supercritical Thermal Adani Power June 2025 U-2 800 Power Plant U-3 800 *************ANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (c) & (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3209 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 06.08.2026 ************* Details of upcoming grid substations and transmission lines in the Kosi-Seemanchal region of Bihar: Likely Sl. No. Grid Sub-station/Transmission Lines Completion Time Frame 2028-29 1 132/33 kV, 2x80 MVA at Bhawanipur LILO of Dhamdaha – Banmankhi 132 kV S/c line at 2028-29 2 Bhawanipur (ACSR Panther) (25 km loop in and 25 km Loop out). 3 220/132 kV, 2x200+2x80 MVA S/s at Kasba 2030-31 4 Katihar(ISTS) – Kasba 220 kV D/c Line (twin Moose) (50 ckm) 2030-31 LILO of Kishanganj - Madhepura 220 kV D/C line at Kasba (50 5 2030-31 ckm Loop in 50 ckm Loop out) 6 220/132/33 kV, 2x200+2x80 MVA S/s at Raniganj 2031-32 LILO of Kishanganj – Madhepura 220 kV D/c Line at Raniganj 7 2031-32 (50 ckm Loop in and 50 ckm Loop out) 8 132/33 kV, 2x80 MVA S/s at Sanauli 2033-34 9 Kasba - Sanuli 132 kV D/c Line (80 ckm) 2033-34 10 132/33 kV, 2x80 MVA S/s at Bahadurganj 2032-33 11 Thakurganj – Bahadurganj 132 kV D/c Line (80 ckm) 2032-33 ****************