PM Gati Shakti: A boost for power infrastructure development in India

- Kinjal Yogesh Dixit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan (NMP) for infrastructure development in October of 2021, with the aim to bring various Ministries/ Utilities and infrastructure planning under one single unified vision. It is to take place across all sectors like Highways, Railways, Aviation, Gas, Power transmission, Renewable Energy and more.

Such an unparalleled initiative highlights the vision for infrastructure development across the country including ‘power’ in general and ‘transmission’ in particular, which strengthens the energy of the country.

This would prove to be a game changer providing multi-modal connectivity of infrastructures to various economic zones by leveraging technology extensively. This includes spatial planning tools with indigenous ISRO imagery developed by BISAG-N, Gujarat. This takes us one step closer to having an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

As India is striding towards strengthening its infrastructure, power is to play an important role in not only the development of infrastructure but the economy.

The PM Gati Shakti NMP portal provides "One-click Comprehensive view” to steer and simplify the planning & implementation process by reduction of time and cost of implementation in Power transmission projects. This will also help in improving the logistics efficiency through single digital platform and multi-modal portal.

In development of Power Transmission projects, PM Gati Shakti NMP portal shall play critical role in planning, tendering, implementation and approval stages. At the planning stage, the user shall identify the tentative line length of the planned transmission line and location of the substation(s). Under the tendering / bidding stage, the survey agency will utilize the portal for identifying the best techno-economical route.

During the implementation stage, based on actual conditions, the finalization of the transmission line route and location of substation shall be done. Lastly, approval stage is envisaged for single window clearance.

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The PM’s call for “One Sun, One World, One Grid” has set the tone for strong and reliable transmission system which will support India’s Renewable Energy (RE) ambitions along with supplementing growth of renewables globally. Power transmission has been an enabler in the RE story and various key Power projects are enabling RE evacuation across country.

Of these projects, Ministry of Power has undertaken 9 High Impact Power projects (10 no. of transmission lines) spanning over 6 RE rich States Viz. Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu. The details of projects have been mapped in the portal, by creating a separate layer of ISTS transmission lines incorporating basic data (like Line route, tower location, location of substation, name of owner etc.)

In line with goal of PM Gati Shakti, the entire “existing” Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) lines have been mapped on the portal that spans across the length and breadth of the country. 90% of the under construction ISTS lines have been integrated in the portal, and the remaining 10% ISTS lines are to be integrated after finalization of route survey by respective transmission Service Providers.

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"In line with goal of PM Gati Shakti, entire existing Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) lines have been mapped on the portal spanning across length and breadth of the country," a power ministry statement said.

PM Gati Shakti NMP portal will ultimately aid in solving problems of development of infrastructures in India by building secure, sustainable, scalable and collaborative approach towards infrastructure planning for seamless connectivity to economic zones. Now, with PM GatiShakti NMP portal and onset of more holistic approach towards planning for Ministries, Utilities and Infrastructure, we are well equipped to take leading steps towards evolving into 5 trillion dollars economy while enabling reliable “Power to All”.