CEA Establishes Standardised Timelines for Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) Projects

Executive Summary

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has outlined a comprehensive regulatory roadmap for the expansion of the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) to facilitate the integration of 900 GW of non-fossil capacity by FY2036. This initiative aims to standardize project delivery across the national grid to support an estimated investment requirement of Rs. 5-6 trillion through FY2032. The framework addresses the urgent need for infrastructure scaling in response to sustained high demand driven by digital infrastructure, industrial growth, and the complexities of renewable energy (RE) ramping requirements.

Standardised Project Targets and Growth Mandates

In alignment with the National Committee on Transmission (NCT) objectives to modernize the grid, the CEA has established high-level targets for infrastructure addition. These targets are designed to reverse recent slowdowns and ensure the grid can accommodate geographically clustered generation.

• Transmission Line Expansion: The national network is projected to reach a total length of 6,27,000 circuit kilometers (ckm) by March 2030.
• Annual Capacity Additions: The mandate envisages a scaled execution rate of 20,000 ckm of transmission lines and 100 GVA of substation capacity annually.
• Hydro Evacuation (Brahmaputra Basin): Specific focus is placed on adding 76 GW of hydro evacuation capacity, utilizing extensive High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) corridors.
• Substation Targets: Total substation capacity is projected to rise to 2,171 GVA by the end of the decade to support the integration of renewable energy-rich states.

Execution Bottlenecks and Environmental Disruptions

While the CEA prescribes technical standards to streamline development, project execution faces significant historical delays, with median delays for competitively bid projects exceeding 10 months. The regulatory framework acknowledges specific situational challenges that necessitate flexibility:

• Right of Way (RoW) Issues: Bottlenecks frequently arise from landowners demanding higher compensation for line placement.
• Clearance Delays: Statutory hurdles, specifically forest clearances, remain a primary cause of schedule overruns.
• Weather and Geography: Projects are subject to disruption from extreme weather events, including floods and cyclones, as well as the inherent difficulties of challenging terrains.
• Supply Chain and Litigation: Constraints in the global supply chain and project-specific legal disputes continue to impact the realization of standardized timelines.

Administrative Context

The Central Electricity Authority, a statutory organization under the Ministry of Power, operates under the mandate of the Electricity Act, 2003. While the CEA is empowered under Section 73(b) to prescribe technical standards for the construction of electrical plants and lines, the regulatory framework contains important statutory distinctions.

Under Section 7 of the Act, generating companies are required to comply only with technical standards relating to grid connectivity. Furthermore, transmission and distribution licensees are not strictly compelled to implement all CEA construction standards, with the exception of the Grid Code and Grid Standards specified under Section 73(d) for operation and maintenance. This administrative nuance is critical for licensees as the industry moves toward the 238th Operation Coordination Sub-Committee (OCC) objectives of managing the “steep ramping” and variability inherent in the modern Indian power system.

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