CEA Clears Record 7.5 GW Hydro Pumped Storage Projects in FY25

14 Apr 2025 CW Team

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s long-term energy storage capacity, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under the Ministry of Power, has approved Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for six Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) totalling approximately 7.5 GW during FY 2024-25—a record feat for the country. The cleared projects include: • Upper Indravati (600 MW) – Odisha • Sharavathy (2,000 MW) – Karnataka • Bhivpuri (1,000 MW) – Maharashtra • Bhavali (1,500 MW) – Maharashtra • MP-30 (1,920 MW) – Madhya Pradesh • Chitravathi (500 MW) – Andhra Pradesh This achievement is the result of enhanced collaboration between PSP developers and appraisal agencies including CWC, GSI, and CSMRS. The CEA has also introduced reforms to accelerate approvals—such as a more transparent appraisal process via the “Jalvi Store” portal, concise DPR formats, and structured checklists for faster submission and review. Building on this momentum, the CEA aims to approve at least 13 PSPs totalling 22 GW in FY 2025-26, with most projects targeted for commissioning within four years, and all by 2030. This is a key element in India’s efforts to support its renewable energy targets and ensure grid reliability through robust energy storage solutions. With private sector participation increasing, India’s estimated pumped storage potential has surpassed 200 GW—a massive jump from the current operational capacity of just 3.5 GW. In 2025, two PSPs totaling 3 GW are set to be commissioned. By 2032, India expects to have about 50 GW of PSP capacity operational. Currently: • 8 projects (10 GW) are under construction • 3 projects (approx. 3 GW) have DPRs already concurred • 49 projects (66 GW) are under survey and investigation Hydro PSPs are critical for India’s energy transition, enabling off-peak power storage and on-demand supply during high usage periods—making them strategic assets for both the nation and investors, with a lifespan of over 70–80 years. (PIB)

Infrastructure Transport

07 Apr 2026

Tunnelling Begins for Thane, Borivali twin tunnel project

Tunnelling work has commenced for the 11.84-km Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel, set to be India’s longest urban road tunnel, marking a key milestone in Mumbai’s infrastructure development.As per a post shared by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority on social media platform X, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) ‘Nayak’—the country’s largest single-shield hard rock TBM for an urban tunnel—was launched by Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday. The event was attended by Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, among other dignitaries. A second TBM, ‘Arjuna’, is expected to be launched so..

Large Format Store Planned At M G Road Metro Station

M G Road station in Bengaluru is set to host the city’s first large-format commercial and experience space, with planning led by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. BMRCL has invited proposals to develop and operate a central business district destination at the Purple?Pink Line interchange. The plan positions the station as a commercial hub designed to serve a broad commuter base across the city. The proposal is part of a broader effort to activate transit nodes commercially. Tender documents set a minimum monthly rental of Rs 0.944 million (mn), inclusive of GST, for the large-format..

Government Cancels Auction Of Eleven Critical Mineral Blocks

The government has cancelled the auction of 11 critical and strategic mineral blocks after receiving a poor investor response and failing to attract a sufficient number of qualified bidders. The decision represents a setback to plans to ramp up domestic exploration and production of critical minerals amid global supply chain disruptions and rising demand for materials used in clean energy and advanced technologies. The mines ministry issued an annulment notice setting out the reasons for the cancellations. The annulment notice indicated that the auction process for five mineral blocks was canc..