The Ministry of Power has issued a Section 164 authorisation for specified high-voltage transmission lines under the Ananthapuram-II Renewable Energy Zone Phase-II scheme, supporting future renewable power evacuation between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
New Delhi, 22 October 2026: The Ministry of Power has granted statutory transmission-line authorisation to Ananthapuram II Power Transmission Limited for specified overhead electricity lines associated with the Transmission System for Integration of Ananthapuram-II Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), Phase-II (3 GW).
The government order, dated 14 October 2026, was published in the Gazette of India on 21 October 2026 under notification S.O. 5653(E).
The notification confers powers under Section 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003, enabling the transmission developer to undertake specified line-development activities within the applicable statutory framework.
The development represents a regulatory milestone for a renewable energy transmission project connecting the Ananthapuram-II pooling station with the CN’Halli electricity network in Karnataka.
The scheme forms part of the wider infrastructure required to integrate renewable electricity generation into India’s inter-state transmission system.
However, the authorisation does not establish that the transmission lines have been completed, energised or commissioned. It also does not announce the commissioning of 3 GW of renewable generation capacity.
New Authorisation for High-Voltage Transmission Infrastructure
The latest Ministry of Power notification concerns overhead transmission lines included within the Ananthapuram-II REZ Phase-II development.
According to the notified scheme, the principal transmission component is an approximately 180-kilometre, 765 kV double-circuit line connecting Ananthapuram-II pooling station with CN’Halli.
The authorised works also include two approximately 25-kilometre, 400 kV line-in-line-out arrangements associated with the existing Talaguppa–Neelmangala transmission network and its Hassan-related section.
These connections are intended to integrate the proposed CN’Halli facilities with the existing high-voltage network.
The indicated line lengths represent planning and notification figures. They should not be treated as confirmed final construction measurements.
The authorisation covers specified overhead transmission works rather than every component of the broader renewable energy integration scheme.
Additional infrastructure, including substations, transformers, electrical protection equipment and grid-control systems, forms part of the wider transmission development process.
The Ministry’s decision therefore marks progress in the statutory framework for transmission-line implementation while leaving physical construction and operational milestones to be established separately.
Understanding the 3 GW Renewable Energy Zone Scheme
The Ananthapuram-II Phase-II transmission project has been planned to support the integration of approximately 3 GW of renewable energy capacity.
Official transmission planning documents identify the scheme as part of the infrastructure required to connect additional renewable generation in southern India to the inter-state electricity network.
The project involves the strengthening of transmission infrastructure associated with Ananthapuram-II and the development of network connections towards CN’Halli.
Such infrastructure is necessary because renewable generation facilities must have access to adequate grid capacity before they can reliably export electricity.
Solar and wind projects may be developed in locations with favourable natural resources, but electricity demand centres can be located considerable distances away.
High-voltage transmission lines provide the infrastructure required to move electricity between these locations.
A 765 kV transmission corridor is designed for the transfer of large quantities of power within a high-capacity electricity network.
Supporting 400 kV connections allow the new infrastructure to interact with existing transmission systems.
The development of these networks requires coordination among transmission developers, electricity system operators, renewable generators and regulatory authorities.
The 3 GW figure identifies the scale of renewable energy integration associated with the transmission scheme. It is not a declaration that 3 GW of generating capacity has been completed or connected through the newly authorised lines.
Section 164 Provides a Statutory Framework for Line Development
Section 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003 enables the appropriate government to confer specified powers on electricity transmission developers for establishing transmission infrastructure.
These powers are related to those historically available to telegraph authorities for placing lines and supporting structures.
The framework is relevant because long-distance transmission projects may cross numerous properties, administrative boundaries and existing infrastructure corridors.
Their implementation often requires detailed route planning and coordination with landholders and public authorities.
Section 164 authorisation facilitates the exercise of defined statutory powers for electricity-line development.
However, it does not mean that a transmission developer is exempt from all applicable legal, technical or administrative requirements.
The notification describes a 25-year authorisation period and requires the developer to obtain relevant permissions from authorities associated with local infrastructure, railways and highways before undertaking applicable erection works.
The developer must also comply with the requirements of the Electricity Act, relevant rules and applicable regulatory codes.
Electrical inspection and the necessary operational approvals remain important stages before the infrastructure can be energised.
The notification should therefore be understood as an enabling legal step rather than an unrestricted approval to construct or operate transmission infrastructure without further requirements.
The Role of CN’Halli in Grid Integration
The CN’Halli network connection is an important element of the wider transmission arrangement.
Official planning material identifies the establishment of high-voltage infrastructure at CN’Halli and associated connections with existing transmission corridors.
The broader scheme includes transformation capacity, transmission-line connections and associated electrical equipment needed to support reliable grid operation.
Substations serve as critical nodes in the electricity network because they allow power to be transferred between transmission lines and different voltage levels.
Transformers enable the voltage changes required to integrate electricity networks operating at different transmission ratings.
Protection systems help identify and isolate electrical faults, while switching equipment supports safe network operation and maintenance.
Reactive-power management equipment is also important for voltage control in high-voltage electricity networks.
These components contribute to the operational stability needed when large renewable generation portfolios are connected to the grid.
The Ananthapuram-II to CN’Halli transmission development is therefore more than a single overhead line. It forms part of a coordinated network expansion intended to improve renewable electricity integration.
Transmission Readiness Is Essential for Solar and Wind Expansion
The expansion of India’s solar and wind capacity increases the importance of timely transmission infrastructure development.
Solar generation depends on available sunlight, while wind production varies according to atmospheric conditions.
Electricity generated from these sources must be transferred through suitable transmission infrastructure to reach consumers.
Where transmission capacity is inadequate, renewable electricity may face operational restrictions or curtailment.
Transmission planning must therefore progress alongside the development of generating assets.
For large renewable energy zones, adequate network infrastructure is particularly important because multiple generating projects may depend on common pooling stations and transmission corridors.
A delay in constructing shared transmission infrastructure can affect the ability of otherwise completed renewable projects to begin commercial electricity supply.
Conversely, well-coordinated transmission development can support the orderly integration of new generation into the electricity system.
The Ananthapuram-II Phase-II scheme is relevant to this wider challenge.
Its intended 3 GW integration scale reflects the importance of developing high-capacity infrastructure alongside renewable energy expansion.
However, the latest Gazette notification does not provide a verified update on the physical completion percentage of the transmission lines or substations.
It would therefore be premature to describe the project as ready for electricity evacuation solely because statutory powers have been granted.
Project Development and Implementation Status
The Ananthapuram-II Phase-II transmission scheme was identified through the established national transmission planning process.
Official REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited documentation identifies the project as an inter-state transmission development selected for implementation through tariff-based competitive bidding.
RECPDCL served as the bid process coordinator for the scheme.
Central Transmission Utility of India Limited planning and coordination records also identify the transmission package and its implementation requirements.
Earlier CTUIL project coordination documents included staged implementation schedules extending into 2027 and 2028.
Those dates provide historical planning context and should not be treated as newly confirmed commissioning commitments issued through the October Gazette.
The latest Section 164 notification establishes a separate regulatory milestone within this longer development process.
Further progress will depend on applicable clearances, route-level implementation, equipment delivery, construction, testing and eventual commissioning.
The project’s status should therefore be reported through distinct stages rather than treating legal authorisation, construction completion and commercial operation as equivalent events.
Implications for India’s Transmission Equipment Industry
Large transmission developments require extensive engineering and equipment manufacturing capabilities.
A high-voltage transmission corridor may involve towers, conductors, insulators, foundations, transformers, switchgear, protection equipment and communication systems.
Construction also requires route surveys, civil engineering, equipment transportation, installation and testing.
These requirements create opportunities for companies operating in transmission engineering, electrical equipment manufacturing and infrastructure construction.
As renewable energy zones expand, demand for transmission infrastructure may support activity across these industrial segments.
However, the October authorisation does not itself identify new contractor appointments, equipment supply agreements or investment values.
Any specific procurement award associated with the project would need to be supported by separate official documentation.
The relevance of the notification lies primarily in the advancement of the regulatory process for a planned transmission development, rather than the announcement of a new equipment order.
Official Sources and References
1. Government of India — e-Gazette, Ministry of Power
Notification in respect of Ananthapuram II Power Transmission Limited.
Government Order: S.O. 5653(E), dated 14 October 2026
Gazette Publication: 21 October 2026
Gazette ID: CG-DL-E-21102026-277300
2. REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited — Official Transmission Tender
Transmission System for Integration of Ananthapuram-II REZ, Phase-II (3 GW).
https://recpdcl.in/rectpcltender
3. RECPDCL — Official Transmission Service Agreement
Project scope, implementation framework and transmission development requirements.
https://www.recpdcl.in/assets/data/pdf/TSA_Ananthapuram_II_24052025.pdf
4. Central Transmission Utility of India Limited — Official Project Coordination Records
Minutes of the 53rd Joint Coordination Committee Meeting of Southern Region, issued April 2026.
5. Central Transmission Utility of India Limited — Approved Transmission Scheme
Ananthapuram-II REZ Phase-II (3 GW), 28th National Committee on Transmission.
https://ctuil.in/uploads/ists_scheme_approve/17689061886428th%20NCT_Ananthapuram%20REZ.pdf
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