Mumbai: In response to a surge in electricity demand driven by new Metro corridors and data centres, Tata Power on Friday unveiled a 400 kV ring network inside Mumbai. This initiative aims to enhance reliability and ensure uninterrupted supply across the city. Officials stated that power demand in Mumbai is expected to rise by nearly 40% over the next five years, necessitating significant upgrades to existing infrastructure.
Expansion of Transmission Corridors
Simultaneously, Tata Power is scaling up its 110 kV transmission corridors outside the city. The crucial Kalva-Kalyan line is scheduled for completion by the end of the current financial year. This upgrade is expected to substantially increase power inflow into Mumbai, enabling the system to wheel in approximately 1,300 MW of electricity, up from the current 150 MW—an eightfold increase.
Key Components of the Ring Network
“The 400 kV ring network inside Mumbai will be a gamechanger. It will connect Vikhroli, Dharavi, Mahalaxmi, Sewree and Trombay, along with a 765 kV link to Dolvi, and will facilitate the import of significantly higher volumes of power into Mumbai,” said Nilesh Kane, chief – transmission and Mumbai distribution, Tata Power. A key component of the project, the Vikhroli to Dharavi stretch, is nearing completion and could bring reliable power to areas in and around the Dharavi Redevelopment project, an official added. The ring network is designed to improve redundancy, reduce outages and provide flexibility in managing load across different regions.
Upgrading Existing Infrastructure
Tata Power is upgrading a total of 10 existing 110 kV transmission line corridors to 220 kV over five years. These include the Dharavi-Mahalaxmi, Mahalaxmi-Backbay, Carnac-Backbay, Bhokarpada-Karanjade, Khopoli-Bhokarpada, Khopoli-Bhivpuri, Bhivpuri-Ambernath, Ambernath-Kalyan, and Kalyan-Kalwa corridors. This will enable significantly higher power flows through existing rights-of-way without the need for new land acquisition, Kane said.
“Also, eight existing 110 kV stations at Bhivpuri, Khopoli, Powai, Parel, Kalyan, Ambernath, Vikhroli and Kolshet are being upgraded to 220 kV level, with the Kolshet station also being interconnected with MSETCL,” he added.
Investment and Demand Projections
The total projected investment for the establishment and enhancement of the transmission network over the next five years is approximately Rs 15,000 crore. The expansion is being executed against the backdrop of Mumbai’s peak demand rising from 4,642 MW in 2026 to a projected 6,500 MW by 2031, driven by data centre establishment, MMRDA Metro network expansion, major infrastructure and redevelopment projects.
Energy Storage Initiatives
On the storage front, Tata Power has already set up two battery energy storage systems of 20 MW each and plans to scale this up to a total of 200 MW at a cost of Rs 300 crore. In addition, the company has 150 MW of pumped hydro storage. These systems will store surplus energy during daytime and supply power during non-solar hours, helping bridge demand gaps and support grid stability, an official added.
