Ministry of Power, Government of India has transferred the prestigious 220 kV Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Khaltsi-Leh Transmission System to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna CPSU of Government of India. With its registered office at New Delhi and corporate centre at Gurugram, the company is operating under Ministry of Power as the Central Transmission Utility (CTU) of the country, responsible for planning, coordination and development of InterState Transmission system. The vision of the company is to be “World class, Integrated, Global Transmission Company with Dominant Leadership in Emerging Power Markets Ensuring Reliability, Safety and Economy”.
The transmission system was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister in February 2019, and it connects the Ladakh region to the national grid, ensuring quality and reliable power supply. Built at a height of around 3000-4000 metres, this 335-km long transmission line traverses snow-bound difficult hilly terrain. It consists of four new state-of-the-art 220/66 kV Gas Insulated Sub-stations and 66 kV interconnection systems at Drass, Kargil, Khaltsi and Leh.
The project was executed by POWERGRID on consultancy basis under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) Scheme. Subsequent to reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) into UTs of J&K and Ladakh, the 220 kV Srinagar-Leh Transmission System has been re-designated as Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) and transferred to POWERGRID with effect from 31.10.2019, the date of formation of the two UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
