A new interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme is being developed to provide a redundant power supply to the manufacturing units in the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) in Gujarat. This scheme aims to enhance the reliability of power supply in the area, supporting the rapid industrialization of Dholera.

The proposed transmission scheme will serve as a second power source, complementing the existing 220/33kV Dholera substation and the established 400kV double-circuit Panchham-Dholera line operated by Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd (GETCO). The new scheme will draw approximately 150-200 MW of power from the forthcoming ISTS Vataman substation, which will then be delivered to GETCO’s new Dholera substation, referred to as Dholera-2, located 30-35 km from Vataman.

The Vataman substation is part of a larger ISTS project being implemented by Vataman Transmission Ltd, a subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), and is expected to be completed by December 2025. GETCO aims to secure ISTS connectivity for its Dholera-2 substation by January 2026.

The ISTS scheme, named “Transmission system to provide redundant power supply to Dholera area,” consists of two main components. The first component will repurpose elements from another ISTS initiative, “Transmission system for offshore wind in Gujarat,” to expedite the Dholera project. This includes constructing a 400kV switchyard and installing two 1500 MVA, 765/400kV interconnecting transformers at the Vataman (AIS) substation.

Notably, the Gujarat offshore wind transmission project will enhance the capacity of the Vataman substation through Vataman Transmission Ltd. Some components of this augmentation have been reassigned to the Dholera transmission project for earlier commissioning.

The second component will involve developing a 220kV switchyard at the Vataman substation, including two 500 MVA, 400/220kV interconnecting transformers (ICT), and establishing two 220kV line bays for the double-circuit line connecting Vataman substation to GETCO’s Dholera-2 substation. However, the 220kV line itself will be implemented by GETCO and will not be included in the Dholera ISTS scheme.

Vataman Transmission Ltd will provide space for the additional infrastructure needed at the Vataman substation.

The total estimated cost for the project is ₹418 crore, allocated between the two components as ₹308 crore and ₹110 crore, respectively.

The National Committee on Transmission (NCT) is set to discuss this scheme in its upcoming meeting, where it will decide on the implementation method, whether through a regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) or tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB).

The Dholera Special Investment Region is a greenfield industrial smart city spanning 920 square kilometers in the Dholera taluka of Ahmedabad. It is being developed by a special purpose vehicle, Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd (DICDL), which is a collaboration between the Central government and the Gujarat state government.

Torrent Power Ltd holds the distribution license for Dholera SIR, valid until 2044, and plans to invest ₹1,200 crore over the next decade to develop the distribution infrastructure needed to meet an anticipated peak demand of approximately 425 MVA. As of now, Torrent Power has not yet begun commercial operations in Dholera SIR.

This transmission scheme represents a significant step toward ensuring a stable power supply for the burgeoning industrial sector in Dholera, fostering economic growth and development in the region.