Tamil Nadu Announces ₹55,628 Crore Power Infrastructure Projects

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday announced power infrastructure projects worth ₹55,628 crore to meet the State’s rising electricity demand.

The projects include transmission network upgrades, a 1,600 MW supercritical thermal power plant in Thoothukudi and distribution infrastructure improvements in Chennai.

Under the Tamil Nadu Transmission Improvement Scheme, the government will establish 196 new substations and lay 15,000 km of new transmission lines. Existing transmission infrastructure will also be strengthened.

₹20,800 Crore Thoothukudi Thermal Power Project

The government plans to establish a 2×800 MW supercritical thermal power station at the Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station complex at an estimated cost of ₹20,800 crore under the public-private partnership model.

The existing Thoothukudi TPS has five coal-based units of 210 MW each, with a total installed capacity of 1,050 MW. The new supercritical units are expected to gradually replace the existing units while meeting applicable environmental regulations.

The Chief Minister said thermal power would continue to play an important role in ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply, particularly during periods of high demand.

₹1,762 Crore Chennai Power Distribution Upgrade

The government has also announced ₹1,762 crore worth of distribution infrastructure improvements in Chennai.

The works will include 36 new 33/11 kV substations, new distribution transformers and the replacement of damaged or ageing cables, conductors, pillar boxes and circuit breakers.

The measures are aimed at improving Chennai’s power distribution network and reducing disruptions caused by monsoon flooding and high summer electricity demand.

Tamil Nadu is also continuing to expand renewable energy through wind and solar power, along with battery storage. However, the government noted that renewable generation is not available consistently throughout the day, making investments in both storage and conventional generation important for maintaining reliable power supply.