A new Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project is being planned to provide a backup power source to Gujarat’s greenfield Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), which is a developing industrial center for manufacturing, the IT sector, and renewable energy. The goal of the decision is to strengthen energy reliability for the rapidly expanding manufacturing and smart-city infrastructure in the Dholera.
Overview – Existing Power Infrastructure
At the moment, a 400 kV double-circuit Panchham-Dholera line supports a 220/33 kV substation at Dholera run by Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd. (GETCO). The main source of electricity for the SIR’s operational area is already this grid.
The projected Vataman switching substation, a 765 kV facility being built through Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.’s (PGCIL) subsidiary, Vataman Transmission Ltd., will supply 150-200 MW to improve redundancy and satisfy rising demand.
By December 2025, the Vataman substation should be finished, and by January 2026, GETCO wants to provide ISTS connectivity to its Dholera-2 substation, which is approximately 30 to 35 km away from Vataman.
Scheme Structure: A Two-Prolonged Approach
These two parts will make up the ISTS projects, which have been designated “Transmission system to provide backup power supply to the Dholera area.”
The AIS substation in Vataman has a 400 kV switchyard:
Designed initially for Gujarat’s wind energy transmission network, two 1,500 MVA, 765/400 kV interconnected transformers are being transferred to this Dholera-feeding project in order for faster supply.
New Infrastructure for Transmission
- At Vataman, a 220 kV switchyard is being built.
- Two 500 MVA, 400/220 kV interconnecting transformers are installed.
- For the dual-circuit kV from Vataman to the Dholera-2 substation, two 220 kV line bays have been added. It’s important to note that GETCO will handle the transmission line itself separately, outside the scope of this ISTS package.
An appropriate platform and space will be supplied by Vataman Transmission Ltd. to support this additional installation.
Finance and Procurement Mode
The 400 kV upgrade (first component) will cost Rs. 308 crore, while the 220 kV infrastructure (second component) will cost Rs. 110 crore. The project’s approximate total cost is Rs. 418 crore.
It is anticipated that the National Committee on Transmission (NCT) will shortly discuss whether to use Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) or the Regulated Tariff Mechanism (RTM) to execute the system.
The new ISTS policy dovetails with Dholera’s role as a future-generation industrial and semiconductor hub. With plug-and-play infrastructure such as dual-source power, high-tech water treatment, ICT networks, solar interfacing, and freight connectivity, Dholera seeks to draw huge-scale global investment and become India’s first-rate smart manufacturing hub.
Summary
Once finished early in 2026, the ISTS power link via Vataman will greatly improve the area’s energy security—a critical pillar for maintaining high-value industries such as semiconductors, electronics production, and green hydrogen plants.
Source By:- https://www.tndindia.com/ists-scheme-planned-to-feed-dholera-investment-region-in-gujarat/
