PM lays foundation stone for Power Grid’s transmission system in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a key power transmission infrastructure project in Tamil Nadu on July 27. The transmission project, aimed at evacuating 2,000 MW of electricity from Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4, is being developed by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) under its subsidiary POWERGRID Kudankulam Transmission Limited, as part of the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project.

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The project includes the construction of a 400 kV double circuit (quad) transmission line connecting Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (Units 3 & 4) to the Tuticorin-II GIS Pooling Station, along with the installation of two 400 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) line terminal bays at the Tuticorin-II substation.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony, held in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, witnessed the presence of several dignitaries including Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan, Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister Thangam Thenarasu, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment P Geetha Jeevan, Member of Parliament Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, and senior officials from the central and state governments, as well as Power Grid.

The new transmission system will play a crucial role in evacuating 2 GW of clean and sustainable nuclear energy to multiple beneficiary states and union territories—namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Puducherry. It is expected to significantly contribute to meeting the rising power demand in southern India while advancing India's broader climate and energy security goals.

This infrastructure is also aligned with the government’s vision of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2030, enhancing the nation’s transition to a greener and more sustainable energy mix.

As of June 30, Power Grid operates 284 substations, over 1,80,533 circuit kilometers of transmission lines, and 5,66,831 MVA of transformation capacity. The company has maintained a robust average transmission system availability of over 99.84 percent, thanks to its integration of advanced technologies, automation, and digital solutions.

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