Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has been awarded two key projects under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) framework to upgrade critical transmission lines in Tamil Nadu, with an estimated total cost of over Rs 1,800 crore.

The projects were recommended by the National Committee on Transmission (NCT) in a recent meeting. The first project involves the upgrade of the 400kV Udumalpet-Madurai line, which will be converted from a single-circuit to a double-circuit (quad) line at a cost of Rs 643 crore. The line, which has been operating since 1993, is nearing its surge impedance loading (SIL) limit. The upgrade will help accommodate the increasing renewable energy (RE) generation in the state. The project is scheduled for completion in 30 months.

The second project focuses on reconductoring two 400kV double-circuit lines (Tirunelveli-Udumalpet and Pugalur-Madurai) with HTLS conductor to support a capacity of 2,100MVA. This Rs 1,193.5 crore project will be completed in 24 months.