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The power sector has been in the forefront of lightning up the India growth story. As the economy continues to surge ahead, electrification and electricity services have been expanding concomitantly to support the growth rate.
Today, the Indian power system with its extensive regional grids--fast maturing in to an integrated national grid-- and its millions of kilometers of transmission and distribution lines criss-crossing the country, are truly symbolic of the successes of India's economic growth.
Capacity
India's electricity generation capacity has been increasing continuously to meet the needs of the rapidly growing economic activity of the country. Total installed capacity of electricity generation has expanded from 105,045.96 MW at the end of 2001-02 to 124,287.17 MW by 2005-06 and further to 141,499.84 MW at the end of February 2008. In fact, India ranks sixth globally in terms of total electricity generation.
| Total Installed Capacity (As on February 29, 2008) |
| Sector |
MW |
Per cent |
| State Sector |
74,453.76 |
52.5 |
| Central Sector |
47,520.99 |
34.0 |
| Private Sector |
19,525.09 |
13.5 |
| Total |
1,41,499.84 |
100 |
| Source: Ministry of Power, India. |
Source-wise, thermal power plants accounted for an overwhelming 64.6 per cent of the total installed capacity. Within this group, coal, gas and oil based thermal power plants accounted for 53.3 per cent, 10.5 per cent and 0.9 per cent, respectively.
Hydel power plants come next with an installed capacity of 35,378.76 MW, accounting for 24.7 per cent of the total installed electricity generation capacity.
Simultaneously, the total transmission lines network has been growing at a robust pace to expand the transmission network. Total transmission lines have increased from 150642 circuit km (ckm) at the end of 2001-02 to 198089 ckm at the end of 2006-07.
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