A new high-capacity transmission project, the Bornagar Substation, has been planned in Bajali district, Assam, under the North Eastern States Strengthening Scheme (NESS). 

• This initiative is critical as it seeks to end the North Eastern Region’s current single-point dependence on the existing Bongaigaon Substation at Salakati for power flow from the rest of India.

The Need for the Bornagar Project

• Systemic Risk: The Bongaigaon substation is the primary gateway for nearly all major power connections entering the Northeast grid. 
  • As it is located in a flood-prone zone (Bongaigaon is highly vulnerable to the Aie and Brahmaputra rivers), any disruption or outage there could severely jeopardize the power supply across the entire region.
• Enhancing Grid Reliability: The new facility at Bornagar is planned as a second major 765/400/220 kV power hub, which is a high-voltage, extra-high-voltage, and ultra-high-voltage electrical substation.
• Creating Redundancy: By establishing this alternative corridor, the project will significantly improve the redundancy and resilience of the regional power grid, reducing the risk of large-scale, widespread outages caused by a single point of failure (like a flood).

Key Features of the New Substation

• Project Implementation: It will be implemented through NER Expansion Transmission Limited, a special purpose entity approved by the Central Government, as part of the broader NESS framework.
• Initial and Future Capacity: The Bornagar facility will initially operate as a 400 kV switching station (a point where transmission lines meet and can be switched for routing power), with provisions for future upgrade to higher 765 kV and 220 kV levels.
• Connectivity: The new hub will be connected to the National Grid by rerouting (or Loop-in, Loop-out – LILO) sections of the existing Bongaigaon-Balipara and Alipurduar-Bongaigaon transmission lines.
• Benefits:
  • Supply Stability: Ensures consistent and stable power supply for growing urban and rural demand in Assam and the Northeast.
  • Reduced Losses: Reinforcing transmission infrastructure under NESS lowers technical losses (energy dissipated as heat in conductors) and improves overall power procurement efficiency, potentially lowering costs for end consumers.

Exam Hook: Prelims Question

Which of the following terms best describes the objective of establishing the Bornagar Substation as an alternative to the Bongaigaon Substation?

(A) Promoting power-efficient appliances under UJALA. 

(B) Enhancing the redundancy and resilience of the regional power grid. 

(C) Primarily increasing intra-state power generation capacity. 

(D) Implementing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for electricity subsidies.

One Line Wrap: The Bornagar Substation project under the NESS is a crucial strategic step to de-risk the power supply of the entire North Eastern Region from the single-point vulnerability posed by the flood-prone Bongaigaon Substation.

(Answer: (B) Enhancing the redundancy and resilience of the regional power grid.)

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