The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signed off on the Rs 1.86 lakh crore PM‑DHARA scheme on Wednesday, setting the stage for a nationwide intra‑state transmission upgrade.
The PM‑DHARA initiative—Developing Harmonised and Accelerated Renewable‑Energy Access—aims to evacuate 135 GW of renewable generation across states, a move that dovetails with the 500 GW target set for 2030.
Financially, the scheme allocates Rs 1 36 378 crore for transmission infrastructure and Rs 50 000 crore for 50 GWh of Battery Energy Storage Systems, while the central government will contribute Rs 54 082 crore in financial assistance.
State Transmission Utilities will spearhead the deployment, with greenfield projects awarded through tariff‑based competitive bidding and brownfield upgrades handled on a cost‑plus basis. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2027, with a phased roll‑out culminating in full operational status by FY 2032‑33.
Beyond numbers, the scheme promises to shave peak‑hour curtailment, smooth intermittency, and create thousands of jobs across power, manufacturing, and construction sectors. A local farmer in Rajasthan, who has seen his solar farm underutilised, says the new grid could finally bring his panels’ power to market.
The next milestone is the announcement of the first bidding round, expected in early 2028, which will determine the utilities that will build and maintain the new corridors.