PM Modi to Kick off key Solar and Transmission Projects in Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of key projects of power and urban sector in Kerala today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of key projects of power and urban sector in Kerala today (February 19, 2021) via video conferencing. The two big projects are the Kasaragod Solar Power Project and the Pugalur – Thrissur Power Transmission Project.

The PM will kick off the projects in the presence of Chief Minister of Kerala, along with Union Ministers of State (I/C) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, and Housing & Urban Affairs, will also be present on the occasion.

Kasaragod Solar Power Project

PM Modi will dedicate to the nation the 50 MW Kasaragod solar power project. The project has been developed under the National Solar Energy Mission. Set up over 250 acres of land spread across Paivalike, Meenja and Chippar villages of Kasaragod district, it has been built with Central Government’s investment of around Rs 280 crore.

The project has been commissioned recently by NTPC subsidiary THDC India. In a corporate filing, the state-run power giant stated that the “maiden solar power project of 50 MW capacity situated at Kasargod Solar Park at Kasargod, Kerala of THDC India Limited (a subsidiary company of NTPC Limited), is declared on commercial operation from December 31, 2020.”

Pugalur – Thrissur Power Transmission Project

Modi will also be inaugurating the 320 KV Pugalur (Tamil Nadu) – Thrissur (Kerala) power transmission project. It is a Voltage Source Convertor (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Project and has India’s first HVDC link featuring state-of-the-art VSC technology. 

Built at a cost of Rs 5070 crores, it will facilitate the transfer of 2000 MW power from the western region and help meet the growth in load for the people of Kerala. This VSC based system features integration of HVDC XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) cable with overhead lines which saves right-of-way as well as has 35-40% less land footprint compared to conventional HVDC system.

Additional projects include the Integrated Command and Control Centre, for which the PM will be laying the foundation stone at Thiruvananthapuram. Projected to be built at a cost of Rs 94 crores, it is being set up to host Smart Solutions for Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation, and will act as a common point of action during emergency situations to facilitate coordinated action. PM will also be laying the foundation stone of the Smart Roads Project in Thiruvananthapuram. The project, to be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 427 crores, envisages converting 37 Kms of existing roads in Thiruvananthapuram to world class smart roads by bringing all overhead utilities underneath and undertaking road and junction improvements.

Furthermore, a 75 MLD (million litres per day) Water Treatment Plant at Aruvikkara, built under the AMRUT Mission will also be inaugurated.