The scale of the next phase is considerable. More than 56,000 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 338 GVA of transformation capacity were under construction through FY2030, while the wider pipeline identified more than 102,000 circuit kilometers and 891 GVA through FY2035. These development stages make project sequencing important. Renewable generation can be commissioned faster than major transmission infrastructure, creating a risk of delayed grid access, underutilized assets and potential curtailment when electricity cannot be evacuated. Rajasthan, Gujarat and other renewable-intensive regions face particular exposure if critical transmission links and grid-strengthening works fall behind schedule.India’s transmission expansion plan for FY2035-36 sets out infrastructure requirements to integrate more than 900 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity, with an estimated investment of ₹7.93 lakh crore. However, nearly 45% of the identified transmission requirement remains in the planning or under-planning stages, making timely execution and location-specific readiness central to the country’s renewable energy expansion. The Central Electricity Authority’s roadmap calls for approximately 137,500 circuit kilometers of additional transmission lines and 827,600 MVA of transformation capacity over the decade.
India had around 509,603 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 1,478 GVA of transformation capacity as of June 2026. Although the network expanded substantially over the preceding decade, infrastructure availability remains uneven across regions. Mercom India Research estimates that the planned transmission capacity provides a buffer against projected renewable growth at the national level, but delays at specific locations could still prevent power from reaching the grid. A completed solar or wind project cannot export electricity if its pooling station, transformer, substation bay or connecting state network is not ready.
The scale of the next phase is considerable. More than 56,000 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 338 GVA of transformation capacity were under construction through FY2030, while the wider pipeline identified more than 102,000 circuit kilometers and 891 GVA through FY2035. These development stages make project sequencing important. Renewable generation can be commissioned faster than major transmission infrastructure, creating a risk of delayed grid access, underutilized assets and potential curtailment when electricity cannot be evacuated. Rajasthan, Gujarat and other renewable-intensive regions face particular exposure if critical transmission links and grid-strengthening works fall behind schedule.
The challenge extends beyond interstate corridors to the networks within individual states. Readiness depends on coordinating renewable project commissioning with land and site availability, substation construction, transformer installation, transmission equipment procurement and the completion of connecting infrastructure. Equipment demand is also expected to rise for high-capacity conductors, switchgear, protection systems, reactive power compensation and high-voltage direct-current equipment. Delays in any of these elements can affect the usefulness of a much larger transmission corridor, even when the main line itself is available.
Renewable energy evacuation initiatives are already progressing alongside the wider expansion. Green Energy Corridor Phases I and II had commissioned approximately 10,254 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 29,020 MVA of transformation capacity by June 2026. Phase III, approved in September 2026, is designed to support up to 135 GW of renewable capacity and includes 50 GWh of battery energy storage, backed by an approved outlay of about ₹1.86 lakh crore. The next priority is to convert planned capacity into commissioned infrastructure at the locations where generation is being added.
Mercomindia.com
Private-sector participation is also increasing. Between April 2025 and June 2026, 116 transmission tenders were issued, covering 78 interstate and 37 intrastate projects, while 35 projects were awarded through competitive bidding. These opportunities could support investment across transmission construction, substations and grid equipment, but delivery will depend on coordination among developers, transmission utilities, state agencies and suppliers. India’s FY2036 target will therefore be measured not only by the scale of its transmission blueprint, but by how effectively infrastructure is completed where renewable electricity needs to enter the grid.