High-voltage transmission costs in India vary sharply with voltage, conductor configuration, terrain and substation requirements. Indicative rates in the supplied Southern Regional Power Committee matrix range from ₹0.71 crore per kilometre for a 220 kV double-circuit line to ₹5.02 crore for a 765 kV double-circuit line.
However, line construction is only one part of the investment. A complete transmission project may also require transformers, substations, land, compensation, protection systems and financing during construction. Comparing projects therefore requires a consistent definition of cost and infrastructure scope.
Transmission Line Cost per Kilometre in India
The SRPC transmission cost matrix provides the following indicative figures. These should be treated as reference rates rather than verified 2026 construction quotations.
The 200-km figures are arithmetic illustrations using the stated rates. They are not complete project estimates.
Higher voltages require larger clearances, specialised insulation and appropriate tower designs. Conductor bundles also affect material requirements and power-carrying capability. For HVDC projects, converter stations can represent substantial additional expenditure, making overhead-line rates insufficient for estimating total investment.
What Is Included in Transmission Project CAPEX?
A realistic capital expenditure estimate should identify expenditure on:
Towers, foundations, conductors and installation.
Substations, transformers, reactors and switchgear.
Land and right-of-way compensation.
Protection, control and communication systems.
Engineering, commissioning, contingency and financing.
Projects connecting existing substations can have different economics from corridors requiring new transformation capacity. River crossings, forest areas, difficult access and weak soil can further change construction costs.
Length measurements also matter. A 200-km double-circuit line represents 400 circuit-kilometres when both circuits extend across the entire route. Cost per route-kilometre and cost per circuit-kilometre must therefore be distinguished.
Green Energy Corridor Phase II: ₹12,031 Crore for Lines and Substations
India’s Green Energy Corridor Phase II programme has a stated project cost of ₹12,031.33 crore for approximately 10,750 circuit-kilometres of transmission lines and 27,500 MVA of substation capacity.
Implemented across seven states, the programme is designed to integrate approximately 20 GW of renewable generation. Central financial assistance totals ₹3,970.34 crore, representing 33 percent of project cost.
Dividing total expenditure by line length produces approximately ₹1.12 crore per circuit-kilometre. This is a programme-level ratio that includes substation infrastructure.
Similarly, dividing expenditure by the targeted renewable capacity gives approximately ₹602 crore per GW of generation supported. That figure measures investment against the programme’s integration objective; it does not establish the network’s reliable transfer capability.
Adani’s Maharashtra Project: ₹4,700 Crore Investment
Adani Energy Solutions announced a transmission project in Maharashtra on August 26, 2026, with estimated CAPEX of ₹4,700 crore.
The Maharashtra transmission project announcement specifies 562 circuit-kilometres of lines and 9,000 MVA of transformation capacity, with completion planned within 36 months.
Its scope includes a new 765/400 kV substation at Satara, a Kolhapur–Satara 765 kV double-circuit line and augmentation of the Kolhapur pooling station. The project supports renewable power evacuation from Karnataka and pumped-storage potential of up to 4.5 GW around Satara.
The estimated investment divided by circuit length equals approximately ₹8.36 crore per circuit-kilometre. Its broader equipment and substation scope prevents direct comparison with line-only reference rates. The 4.5 GW pumped-storage potential also should not be used as a verified corridor transfer rating.
Green Energy Corridor Phase III: ₹1.86 Lakh Crore Outlay
The Union Cabinet approved Green Energy Corridor Phase III on September 30, 2026, targeting renewable energy evacuation of up to 135 GW by FY2032–33.
The Cabinet’s Green Energy Corridor Phase III approval states a total outlay of ₹1,86,405 crore, including ₹1,36,378 crore for intra-state transmission systems and ₹50,000 crore for 50 GWh of battery storage.
Total central financial support is ₹54,082 crore. Greenfield transmission projects will follow tariff-based competitive bidding, while brownfield upgrades and network strengthening will use a cost-plus approach.
Storage expenditure must be separated when evaluating transmission costs. Dividing the entire programme outlay by renewable capacity would combine two different infrastructure categories.
How to Calculate Transmission Cost per GW
For a project with verified transfer capability:
Cost per GW = Total project CAPEX ÷ Reliable transfer capacity in GW
A hypothetical ₹2,000-crore project with 4 GW of reliable transfer capability would cost ₹500 crore per GW, equivalent to ₹50 lakh per MW.
Connected generation capacity cannot automatically replace reliable transfer capability. Network constraints, contingency requirements and operating conditions determine how much electricity a corridor can transfer securely.
For substations, a hypothetical ₹300-crore investment delivering 1,500 MVA gives ₹20 lakh per MVA. Comparisons still require matching voltage levels, equipment scope and redundancy. MVA measures apparent power and cannot be treated as identical to MW.
India’s Transmission Investment Outlook
India’s National Electricity Plan for 2023–2032 envisages approximately ₹9.15 lakh crore of investment in central and state transmission systems. Official planning targets include 6.48 lakh circuit-kilometres of transmission network and 168 GW of interregional transfer capacity by 2032.
For developers and investors, a credible transmission budget should disclose the price year, route and circuit length, voltage, conductor configuration, substation scope, compensation and financing assumptions. Project value ultimately depends on the renewable capacity enabled, congestion relieved and reliability delivered alongside construction cost.
SHAFANA FAZAL
