Powergrid has enhanced its interregional power transfer capacities at the northern, eastern and western grids in line with the plan to establish an integrated national grid in a phased manner.

Powergrid commissioned Ranchi-Sipat 400 kV double circuit transmission line on 1 December 2008, thereby enhancing power transfer capacity between eastern and western regions by 1200 MW to make it 3000MW.

The public sector power utility also enhanced the power transfer capacity between eastern and northern regions by 500 MW to make it about 4000 MW by utilising inherent capability of Biharshariff-Sasaram -Allahabad link, a government release said.

With these achievements, total inter-regional power transfer capacity of national grid has been enhanced to 18,700 MW from existing level of 17,000 MW.

The release further noted that there has so far been no constraints in evacuation of power from central sector generating stations on account of transmission network. In fact, the release said,establishment of national grid by Powergrid is also facilitating transfer of short term surplus power from any where to any where in the country from generation under state and private sector as well.

Powergrid plans to enhance the capacity of national grid to more than 37,000 MW by end of XI Plan through strengthening of regional grids and building more inter-regional links, for which an investment of Rs55,000 crore is earmarked.

With regard to mobilisation of requisite debt funds Powergrid is placed in a comfortable position, even in today's economic scenario, as it enjoys an excellent credit rating with financial institutions at national and international level, it said.

It has already tied up loans to the tune of $2.2 billion (Rs10,000 crore) from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. For balance funding also discussions are on with funding agencies at national and international level.

Over a period of 16 years, Powergrid - a Navratna PSU - has emerged as one of the largest and best managed transmission utilities in the world and playing a strategic role in Indian power sector.

At present, Powergrid is operating around 69,500 circuit km of transmission lines and 116 substations with a transformation capacity of 77,200 MVA.