The National Committee on Transmission (NCT) has approved two major interstate transmission system (ISTS) schemes worth over Rs 2,100 crore to integrate 4.5 GW of renewable energy (RE) from Karnataka’s resource-rich regions of Davanagere, Bellary, and Tumkur-II.

These projects, cleared under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) framework, now await concurrence from the Union power ministry. The first scheme, covering Davanagere (0.25 GW) and Bellary (2.75 GW), is estimated at Rs 1,111 crore with REC Power Development & Consultancy as the bid process coordinator. It will augment the Davanagere pooling station (PS) with 2×1500 MVA transformers and the Bellary PS with 6×500 MVA units, while also establishing a second 400kV double-circuit line between the two stations.

The second scheme, worth Rs 1,051 crore, will strengthen Tumkur-II PS (1.5 GW), coordinated by PFC Consulting. It will add 3×500 MVA transformers and build a 100 km 400kV double-circuit line linking Tumkur-II to Madhugiri. Together, the two schemes will enhance transformation capacity by 7,500 MVA across 11 new transformers. As MNRE noted, “Evacuation infrastructure for 6 GW of RE in Karnataka is required,” of which these schemes address 4.5 GW, with the remaining 1.5 GW at Bijapur under finalisation.