India Targets 627,000 Circuit Kilometre Grid To Support 900 GW Renewables

17 Jul 2026 CW Team

Transmission line length grew at a compound annual growth rate of three point six per cent over the past decade while substation capacity rose at seven point eight per cent over nine years. Inter-regional transfer capability has reached 120 GW. The plan includes High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) corridors to evacuate 76 GW of Brahmaputra Basin hydropower.

After a slowdown in awards and execution between FY2022 and FY2025, the sector recovered in FY2026 with 12,139 ckm of lines and 113,013 MVA of substation capacity added. The recovery highlights the scale of work required and the reliance on renewable-rich states.

Execution remains the main constraint, with only 12 per cent of projects awarded through the tariff based competitive bidding route completed on schedule and most delayed by more than 10 months. Some projects were delayed by as much as three years owing to right of way disputes, forest clearance delays, supply chain disruption and extreme weather. Addressing these bottlenecks is central to accelerating delivery.

Limited transmission availability has left around 33 per cent of India’s 54.8 GW commissioned renewable capacity dependent on Temporary General Network Access (TGNA), causing frequent curtailments in western and northern India. Financial stability is supported by a pooled collection mechanism managed by the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) recorded collection efficiency of over 100 per cent in FY2026. Faster land acquisition and streamlined approvals will be essential to support clean energy objectives.

India plans a major expansion of its power transmission network to meet rising demand and support non-fossil power integration under a Central Electricity Authority (CEA) plan. The CEA seeks a grid able to integrate 900 GW of non-fossil capacity by FY2036 and targets 627,000 circuit kilometres (ckm) of lines and 2,171 GVA of substation capacity by March 2030. The plan will require investments of around Rs five trillion to Rs six trillion (Rs five tn to Rs six tn) between FY2027 and FY2032. Transmission line length grew at a compound annual growth rate of three point six per cent over the past decade while substation capacity rose at seven point eight per cent over nine years. Inter-regional transfer capability has reached 120 GW. The plan includes High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) corridors to evacuate 76 GW of Brahmaputra Basin hydropower. After a slowdown in awards and execution between FY2022 and FY2025, the sector recovered in FY2026 with 12,139 ckm of lines and 113,013 MVA of substation capacity added. The recovery highlights the scale of work required and the reliance on renewable-rich states. Execution remains the main constraint, with only 12 per cent of projects awarded through the tariff based competitive bidding route completed on schedule and most delayed by more than 10 months. Some projects were delayed by as much as three years owing to right of way disputes, forest clearance delays, supply chain disruption and extreme weather. Addressing these bottlenecks is central to accelerating delivery. Limited transmission availability has left around 33 per cent of India’s 54.8 GW commissioned renewable capacity dependent on Temporary General Network Access (TGNA), causing frequent curtailments in western and northern India. Financial stability is supported by a pooled collection mechanism managed by the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited (CTUIL) and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) recorded collection efficiency of over 100 per cent in FY2026. Faster land acquisition and streamlined approvals will be essential to support clean energy objectives.

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