ISTS Scheme to Strengthen Power Supply for Dholera SIR in Gujarat
A new Interstate Transmission System (ISTS) project is being planned to ensure a redundant and reliable power supply for the rapidly developing Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) in Gujarat. This will serve as a second power source alongside the existing 220/33kV Dholera substation and the 400kV double-circuit Panchham–Dholera line built by Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd (GETCO).
Under the proposed plan, 150–200 MW of power will be drawn from the upcoming 765kV Vataman substation and routed to GETCO’s new Dholera-2 substation, located about 30–35 km away. The Vataman substation, being developed by Vataman Transmission Ltd, a subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), is expected to be ready by December 2025. GETCO aims to secure ISTS connectivity for Dholera-2 by January 2026.
Two-Component Project Structure
- Transferred Elements – Certain infrastructure planned under the “Transmission System for Offshore Wind in Gujarat” project will be shifted to the Dholera scheme for early commissioning. This includes:
- 400kV switchyard
- 2×1500 MVA, 765/400kV interconnecting transformers at Vataman (AIS)
- New Development
- 220kV switchyard
- 2×500 MVA, 400/220kV interconnecting transformers
- Two 220kV line bays for the double-circuit line connecting Vataman and Dholera-2 (line to be built separately by GETCO)
The estimated project cost is ₹418 crore, with ₹308 crore allocated to the first component and ₹110 crore to the second.
Implementation & Future Outlook
The National Committee on Transmission (NCT) will soon decide whether the project will follow the Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) or Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) model.
Dholera SIR – India’s Greenfield Smart City
Spread over 920 sq. km, Dholera SIR is a greenfield industrial smart city developed by Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd (DICDL), a joint venture between the Central and Gujarat governments. Torrent Power Ltd, holding a distribution licence till 2044, plans to invest ₹1,200 crore over the next decade to cater to an estimated peak demand of 425 MVA.
Once operational, the new ISTS scheme will significantly boost power reliability for industries in Dholera, reinforcing its position as a hub for manufacturing and smart infrastructure.
