The Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) has commissioned the transmission project for the 2,500 MW solar energy zone in Bidar, Karnataka, on October 5, 2026.

The project was entrusted to POWERGRID Bidar Transmission, a wholly owned subsidiary of POWERGRID, which was amalgamated with POWERGRID Khavda II-C Transmission in March 2026.

The original scheduled commercial operation date for the project was February 2026.

The project involved laying the Bidar (PS)-Maheshwaram (PG) 765 kV D/C line, establishment of Bidar PS 3×1500 MVA, 765 kV and 5×500 MVA, 400/220 kV ICTs. It also comprised 765 kV line bays at Maheshwaram (PG).

The commissioning of the transmission project enables the evacuation of solar energy generated in the state and strengthens grid stability.

POWERGRID had invited bids to set up a transmission line package for the pooling station associated with the transmission program for the solar energy zone in May 2023.

In September this year, the Ministry of Power authorized POWERGRID to lay an overhead transmission line for the integration of additional renewable energy potential at Davanagere and Bellary in Karnataka. The line is being laid under the ‘Transmission system strengthening for integration of additional RE potential at Davanagere (0.25 GW) and Bellary (2.75 GW)’ project.

The project covers the Bellary-Davanagere second 400 kV (Quad) double-circuit line.

As of June 2026, India’s transmission infrastructure comprised approximately 509,603 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 1,478 gigavolt-amperes of transformation capacity, according to Mercom’s State of Transmission Infrastructure in India report.

The country’s transmission network has grown significantly over the past decade. However, transmission infrastructure remains unevenly distributed across the country, with constraints becoming increasingly evident in regions with high renewable energy penetration.

Rajasthan and Gujarat are among the states with substantial renewable energy installations face very high conditional curtailment exposure if critical transmission infrastructure and grid-strengthening projects are delayed.

On the regulatory front, initiatives have been introduced to address land acquisition and right-of-way challenges that delay transmission infrastructure development. Recently, the Ministry of Power introduced a market-based valuation mechanism to determine compensation for land affected by right-of-way requirements for electricity transmission lines. The guidelines apply to transmission lines above 66 kV and certain interstate transmission system lines below 66 kV.

Official data in June flagged schedule slippages in 36 critical ISTS corridors. Disputes over RoW and compensation for landowners were cited as the key reasons behind the delays.