Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), the country’s largest power transmission utility, has approved an investment of around ₹2.09 billion for the North Eastern Region Expansion Scheme–XXIII (NERES-XXIII). The project is part of a series of strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening electricity transmission infrastructure and ensuring reliable power supply across India’s northeastern states.
The sanctioned investment underscores the government’s commitment to developing the power sector in the Northeast, a region with vast potential for renewable energy but historically constrained by inadequate transmission links and geographical challenges. With this project, Powergrid aims to modernize and expand the network, enabling smoother evacuation of power from generating stations and addressing bottlenecks in electricity distribution.
According to officials, the NERES-XXIII scheme will not only facilitate the delivery of electricity to remote and underserved areas but also create a more stable and resilient grid. The project is expected to support the integration of upcoming renewable energy projects, particularly hydropower and solar, into the national grid. This aligns with India’s broader climate goals of scaling up renewable energy capacity and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
The scheme will also help improve inter-state connectivity, allowing the northeastern states to transfer surplus power to other regions during peak generation seasons, while drawing electricity from the national grid when local generation falls short. Such flexibility is critical for a region known for seasonal variations in power availability.
Powergrid has been consistently investing in the Northeast through a series of NERES schemes over the past decade, laying down transmission lines, substations, and inter-regional links. The approval of NERES-XXIII is another step in this ongoing journey of infrastructure enhancement.
Industry experts believe that the project will accelerate economic growth in the Northeast by providing reliable electricity to households, industries, and infrastructure projects. Improved power supply is also expected to attract fresh investments in manufacturing and services, while supporting initiatives like the “Act East Policy” which seeks to improve connectivity and economic integration of the region.
The project will be executed in phases, with implementation timelines being closely monitored to ensure timely completion. Once operational, it is expected to significantly reduce transmission losses, enhance efficiency, and provide long-term energy security to the northeastern region.
With this move, Powergrid continues to reinforce its role as a backbone of India’s electricity sector, building a stronger grid that not only supports national energy goals but also delivers tangible benefits to some of the country’s most geographically challenging regions.
