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CTUIL has launched a consultancy tender to appoint an Independent Engineer for supervising the transmission system supporting renewable power evacuation from the Raghanesda Area of Gujarat under the 3 GW Phase-I programme. The procurement reinforces Transmission infrastructure India by strengthening project governance through independent engineering supervision rather than expanding physical assets alone. The assignment follows domestic competitive bidding under the QCBS methodology through the GeM platform. EnergylineIndia.com provides verified reporting on India's infrastructure and energy procurement market.

The consultant will monitor engineering activities, construction quality, testing, commissioning support, milestone certification and contractual compliance throughout project execution. The role also requires continuous coordination with contractors, site inspections, issue escalation and detailed progress reporting to ensure implementation aligns with technical specifications.

The consultancy primarily targets engineering firms with proven experience in Independent Engineer, Project Management Consultancy or transmission-sector supervision assignments. Expertise in extra-high-voltage substations and transmission lines is expected to be a key competitive advantage during evaluation.

The project demonstrates how Transmission infrastructure India continues to evolve with stronger quality assurance and independent technical monitoring. Renewable energy transmission projects increasingly depend on third-party engineering oversight to improve construction quality, reduce execution risks and support timely commissioning of strategic interstate power infrastructure.

Ami Chauhan | Originally published on EnergyLineIndia.com

Southern India’s next phase of transmission expansion has quietly moved from proposal to design.

With three new Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) cleared and a conditional green-hydrogen corridor approved, the southern grid is entering its biggest build phase since the Raigarh–Pugalur–Thrissur HVDC link.

This round signals a major leap in connecting renewable generation, storage, and hydrogen infrastructure — bringing structure and accountability to India’s southern power transition.

Projects Now Locked In

The Southern Regional Power Committee (SRPC) has given its green light to the Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL) for four strategic schemes:

Kurnool-V REZ (4.5 GW) — expands pooling capacity for Andhra Pradesh’s solar and storage growth.

Ananthapuram-III REZ (4.5 GW) — integrates hybrid renewables and battery storage systems (BESS).

Kadapa-II REZ (7.5 GW) — anchors central-sector solar parks and large hybrid projects.

Visakhapatnam Green Hydrogen/Ammonia System (~3 GW) — conditionally approved; construction begins once firm developer commitments are in.

Each REZ will host 765 kV and 400 kV pooling stations and 220 kV downstream networks, enabling flexible power evacuation.

The total estimated cost tops ₹22,000 crore, financed through CTUIL’s competitive routes and central budgetary support for green hydrogen and ammonia infrastructure.

A New Discipline in Green Capex

In a first, CTUIL has embedded an “application-trigger” clause — meaning no transmission line will proceed until developer applications reach a firm threshold.

After years of half-utilized substations and idle capacity, this rule introduces discipline to India’s green grid investment. For hydrogen and ammonia, it ensures capacity follows demand — not the other way around.

States have responded positively:

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have already begun land pooling for Kurnool and Kadapa.

Telangana has requested sequencing to avoid overlap with its 765 kV backbone works.

Risks and Bottlenecks

Right-of-way (RoW) clearance remains the toughest challenge.

Although the Ministry of Power’s March 2025 guidelines promise faster land valuation using registered valuers, implementation remains uneven. Forest approvals for Kadapa-II and coastal zoning around Visakhapatnam could push tendering to FY2027.

On financing, with several state utilities struggling, CTUIL may need to front-load EPC contracts through the ₹1.5 lakh crore interest-free loan window or explore InvIT structures to meet deadlines.

What It Means for the Southern Grid

If these corridors are built on schedule, they’ll unlock 20+ GW of renewable capacity and create the southern backbone for hydrogen exports and round-the-clock renewable power by 2030.

For the first time, generation and transmission timelines seem aligned. But success depends on disciplined execution — one delayed corridor could again leave the southern grid stranded.