Historic Boost to Power Infrastructure in Ladakh – Government of India Approved Revised Cost of ₹ 1925.28 Crores under PMDP -2015 for Nubra and Zanskar Transmission Line and Grid Stations.

Date:23-Sept-2025: Historic Boost to Power Infrastructure in Ladakh – Government of India Approved Revised Cost of ₹ 1925.28 Crores under PMDP (Prime Minister Development Package)-2015 for Nubra and Zanskar Transmission Line and Grid Stations.
The 220 KV Phyang-Disket and Drass-Padum Transmission Line has been approved under the PMDP-15 scheme with an award cost of Rs. 1203.08 Cr. The project is being implemented by RECPDCL and POWERGRID is providing the Project Management and Consultancy services. The project has been awarded by RECPDCL in July 2021.
Ministry of Power has accorded approval to the Revised Cost Estimate-II (RCE-II) amounting to ₹1925.28 Crores for the Intra-State Transmission Projects under the Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP-2015) in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
This sanction conveyed by the Ministry of Power vide its order dated 16th September 2025, provides administrative and financial approval for the balance works and ensures timely execution of vital transmission projects that will significantly strengthen the power infrastructure across the two regions of Ladakh, namely Nubra and Zanskar Valley.
As per the approval, the Government of India will extend a grant of ₹1925.28 Crores. The sanction was granted by the Monitoring Committee of RDSS in its 52nd meeting held on 8th September 2025 under the chairmanship of Secretary (Power) Government of India.
With the revised sanction, the works of the held up 220 KV Transmission line for Nubra and Zanskar shall again resume at war footing basis, and will immensely benefit the regions.
Completion of critical transmission lines and grid stations in Nubra and Zanskar of UT Ladakh, ensuring 24 X 7 reliable power supply to whole of Ladakh.
Expediting major projects in Ladakh, including the 220 kV Phyang–Diskit (Nubra) transmission line and the 220 kV Drass–Padum line, which will provide a.
Phasing out of Diesel Generating sets used for power generation in these areas of Nubra and Zanskar. Around 20 Nos DG stations in Nubra of 7 MVA capacity and 8 Nos DG Stations in Zanskar of 5 MVA capacity will be phased out with these lines.
Enhanced Power Infrastructure: These projects will provide sustainable energy backbone to remote and strategic regions of Nubra and Zanskar, enhancing reliability and quality of electricity.
Renewable Energy Integration: This will help in development of Solar parks in Ladakh as the transmission lines will provide the evacuation infrastructure.
Socio-Economic Impact: Improved power infrastructure is expected to boost tourism, support defence establishments, and foster socio-economic development in Ladakh.
Environmental Benefits: Reduction in diesel generator usage will contribute to environmental protection in the pristine Ladakh region.
The availability of grid in these regions, will also pave way for implementation of PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna, and other grid connected RE projects.
Major Reasons for increase in project cost:
1.The final vetting of the transmission line alignment has been done by DGRE wherein, they had directed for introducing raised chimney (0-9 metre height) and special circular foundation (4-12 meters height) for flood and avalanche prone areas.
2.Accordingly, out of the 940 towers, (Nubra+Zanskar) 841 Nos. raised chimneys and 99 Nos. special circular foundations have been introduced based on the DGRE directions.
3.Due to the above, there is major increase in the civil quantities leading to price escalation of each tower from ₹0.28 Cr for normal tower to ₹0.50 Cr for raised chimney and ₹1.90 Cr for special circular foundation, thus the flood and avalanche proof tower designing itself has led to increase in the project cost by approximately 265 Crores.
4.Special Grade Steel Material (C-Grade) for tower parts and Reinforcement Steel (Fe-500) has been used for the project in view of temperature variation from -45 to +30 degree temperature of Ladakh.
5.The earlier proposed normal Zebra conductor has been replaced with Special Deer Conductor for high tensile strength due to hilly terrain, undulations and wind zone-VI category of locations.
6. The total cost escalation on account of quantity variation due to the above reasons is Rs. 345.82 Cr.
7.The price variation in the project is Rs. 376.38 Cr. It is to mention here that contract was awarded in the July, 2021 during the period of Covid Pandemic wherein IEEMA Indices of various raw material such as Steel, HSD, Labour, etc were at their lowest, which have increased substantially thereafter, till date.
Further, in the Drass Padum Line, 217 towers were falling on private land and accordingly, funds to the tune of Rs. 65 Crores have been disbursed for settlement to the private land owners for land compensation and further compensation claims are also being settled as and when arisen.
The additional realignment in the project has also been done at Manmantop Drass (Snow Ski site), Drang Drung Glaciers and Shakar Markim villages of Zanskar etc. in the interest of the overall development of the region and public at large.
An amount of Rs. 99 Crores has been paid to the wildlife department for clearance in the 220 KV Phyang Disket Line.
The proposal for the revised cost estimate of the project from Rs. 1203.08 Cr to Rs. 1925.28 Cr has been submitted to MOP by RECPDCL in FY 2022-23, the Monitoring Committee of Ministry of Power for the last 2 years has diligently scrutinized each and every aspect of the cost escalation proposal and thereafter, has accorded the approval in September 2025 only.
With the revised cost approval, the project is expected to be completed by October, 2026.