To augment seamless transfer of power from power surplus regions to power deficit regions, Raj Kumar Singh, Union Minister of Power and MNRE has approved 23 Inter State Transmission System Projects (ISTS) with an estimated cost of Rs 15893 crores. 13 projects with estimated cost of Rs 14766 set to be developed under Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) and 10 projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 1127 crore to be developed under Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) have been together consolidated into the new ISTS project. The new ISTS project would help in evacuation system for 14 GW of Renewable Projects in Rajasthan, 4.5 GW of RE projects in Gujarat, 1 GW Neemuch Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh and feeding areas near Akhnoon and Jammu region while establishing Siot Substation in Jammu.
The 23 projects combined under ISTS have been approved after examining the recommendations of the National Committee on Transmission. The projects have also been examined to ascertain that they are in accordance with the National Tariff Policy 2016, notified by the Central Government, as per which, the ISTS projects should be developed through TBCB, except for certain category projects, which are strategic, technical-upgradation or time-bound in nature. The new ISTS project would be augmenting seamless transfer of power from power surplus regions to power deficit regions and would also be optimizing the use of generation resources apart from meeting the demands of end consumers without any transmission constraints. It would lead to growth of renewable energy-based capacities.