India unveils Rs 9.15 trillion blueprint to meet 458 GW power demand by 2032

25 Sep 2024 CW Team

India has launched a Rs 9.15 trillion plan to overhaul its power infrastructure, aiming to meet a projected peak demand of 458 GW by 2032. Announced by Union Minister Manohar Lal, the National Electricity Plan 2023-2032 outlines an ambitious strategy to enhance the transmission network and bolster the nation's energy security under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

""Our power infrastructure is crucial to national security and economic stability,"" said Manohar Lal during a press conference in New Delhi. The plan focuses on expanding the grid to accommodate emerging technologies like renewable energy and green hydrogen.

The transmission network will grow from 485,000 circuit kilometers (ckm) in 2024 to 6.48 lakh ckm by 2032, while the transformation capacity will increase from 1,251 GVA to 2,342 GVA. Additionally, 50 GW of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) capacity has been approved to support the evacuation of 280 GW of variable renewable energy (VRE) by 2030, with 42 GW already completed and more under construction or in bidding phases.

Manohar Lal highlighted investments of Rs 606.76 billion to facilitate renewable energy evacuation across states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan, while also emphasising the electrification of 83,596 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) households and agricultural feeder segregation to improve rural power reliability.

Further, the minister introduced a new Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-Power) to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats, along with updated guidelines for electric vehicle charging infrastructure to promote EV adoption nationwide.

(ET)

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..