OREANDA-NEWS. April 02, 2012. Reliance Infrastructure Limited (RInfra), the largest integrated infrastructure Company and a licensee in power transmission and distribution in Mumbai has commissioned its fourth 220kV Extra High Voltage (EHV) Substation at Borivali.

Commissioning of this extra high voltage substation will facilitate strengthening of the Mumbai transmission grid, which is already congested due to the consistent growth in demand over last few years. As a result, Mumbai suburban consumers will experience enhanced quality and reliable power supply from their power distribution utilities.

Commissioning of this extra high voltage substation will further create an opportunity to open new supply outlets in Borivali East and its adjacent areas, in case there is demand for power from those areas.

The newly commissioned extra high voltages substation will also enhance the power reliability, reduce the losses and meet the increasing power demand of Maharshtra. This will also reduce the ROW issues for the multiple 33kV cable laying in already congested areas.

To reiterate, there were no significant capacity additions on Mumbai transmission system for years together despite the continuous growth in demand. This had stretched the existing system to the maximum extent.

RInfra, in addition to its previously existing conventional extra high voltage substations at Ghodbunder, Aarey Colony and Versova, had envisaged the need to add more extra high voltage substations in Mumbai's transmission system.

However, considering the space constraints in Mumbai, coming up with such substations was a difficult task. RInfra's expertise came up with unique invention of multi storied compact extra high voltage substation that saves 90% of the space than that of the conventional one. The company has already constructed and commissioned three such substations and this is the fourth one located at Borivali.

In total seven EHV substations were commissioned by RInfra, that will provide substantial relief to Mumbai's power distribution system by decongesting High Tension outlets for power distribution utilities.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Lalit Jalan, CEO & Director of Reliance Infrastructure Limited said, "We are committed to create world class transmission network for Mumbai to meet its growing infrastructural needs. We would endeavour to ensure timely capacity additions for evacuation of power to facilitate all around growth of the city." He further added," this newly commissioned multi storied compact extra high voltage substation, designed by RInfra team requires 90% less land than that of the conventional one. We do hope that this innovation will lay a forward path for other utilities in the country."

These innovative efforts by RInfra's Mumbai Transmission team, i.e., coming up with the multi storied extra high voltage substation to overcome space crunches in city have been received recognitions from all over and the company was conferred on the prestigious Golden Peacock Innovation Management Award earlier.

It is pertinent to note that the availability of RInfra's Mumbai Transmission's 220 KV network, including planned outages, is 99.75% against the MERC's target of 98 %. Reliability for 33 KV outlets is 99.99 %.

Reliance Infrastructure is now a transmission and distribution licensee in Mumbai for next 25 years. The Company has already spent around Rs.700 Crores on strengthening the Mumbai Transmission Grid. The Company, at present, is also executing five transmission projects across the country with total outlay of over Rs 6,600 crore, through its another power transmission arm, It owns two out of five Ultra Mega Transmission Projects awarded to private sector till date, making RInfra as the first ever and the largest developer of transmission projects in private space.