OREANDA-NEWS. September 17, 2012. Reliance Infrastructure Limited (RInfra), a Transmission & Distribution Licensee for power transmission and distribution in Mumbai, has commissioned its new Multi storied compact 220/33kV Extra High Voltage (EHV) GIS Substation at Chembur. This is the 5'h Extra High Voltage Substation in the Multi-Storied Compact Substations class and overall 8th one by RInfra in Mumbai Suburbs.

With commissioning of this EHV Substations, Mumbaikars will continue to derive benefits of qualitative and reliable power supply, irrespective of their distribution service provider utility. This is possible as the Substation will be strengthening Transmission Network of Mumbai, which is already experiencing congestion and been overloaded due to consistent growth in demand over last few years.

Substation is connected to MSETCL Trombay substation with 220kV double circuit under ground cable of 50 Kms length, which is the 5th connectivity of RInfra's Transmission Network with Maharashtra State Transmission Grid. The connectivity is expected to facilitate drawl of load from this station, thus reducing the burden on the critically overloaded existing transmission links and moreover facilitate import of additional 250 MW power in Mumbai.

To cater the future load growth in Eastern Suburbs of Mumbai, the commissioning of this extra high voltage substation has further created opportunity to open new supply outlets in Eastern suburbs for distribution utilities. The new EHV Substation will also facilitate reduction in capital expenditure and “Right Of Ways” issues of laying multiple, long 33kV cables in already congested areas, which would not only avoid inconvenience to the local people, but would also derive double benefits to consumers, through enhance supply quality as well as maintaining control on capital expenditure that has overall impact on consumer's power tariff.

Further, the Maharashtra State will also derive the benefits from the newly commissioned extra high voltages substation, as it would facilitate in reducing losses, enhancing the reliability and matching to the increasing power demand.

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, in coordination with Maharashtra State Transmission utility (STU) and MERC.

Commenting on the occasion, Spokesperson, Reliance Infrastructure Limited said, “We are committed to create World Class power 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. ”

It is pertinent to note that RInfra's Mumbai transmission maintains best in industry operating parameters and achieved 99.77% System availability for the year FY2011-12, against MERC's target of 98%.

Reliance Infrastructure is a transmission and distribution licensee in Mumbai for next 25 years. The Company has already spent around Rs. 800 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.