Maharashtra has extended the TBCB philosophy to yet another project, this time a 220kV substation at Musalgaon in Nashik district.
REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL), the bid process coordinator, has recently initiated the bidder selection process, the last date of bid submission being December 17, 2025.
The project involves building a 220/132/33kV air-insulated substation (AIS) at Musalgaon in Nashik district. The substation, with transformation capacity of 300 MVA (2×100 MVA, 220/132kV and 2×50 MVA, 220/33kV) is expected to come up by December 31, 2026. The substation will be supported by associated transformer bays and line bays.
The project aims to mitigate network constraints in the Nashik region, and ensure stable power supply particularly in periods of high demand.
The substation is critical in view of the “Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela” to be held in 2027. This major religious congregation is expected to significantly enhance regional power demand.
TBCB in Maharashtra
According to information available with tndindia.com, there are at least 14 intrastate transmission system (InSTS) schemes in Maharashtra, being developed under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) framework. This includes ten schemes under bidding and four in the planning stage. Of the ten, shortlisting of bidders has taken place in the case of two – Velgaon and Jejuri-Hinjewadi.
In its “Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Multi Year Tariff) Regulations, 2024,” MERC directed that all intrastate schemes in the state, with anticipated project cost exceeding Rs.200 crore [excluding land cost and reinstatement (RI) charges], should be implemented under the TBCB mechanism, subject to conditions.
Tendering scrapped
In an independent development related to RECPDCL, the bid process coordinator has terminated the tendering process for two intrastate schemes in Karnataka. The termination has been done for “administrative reasons,” as formally announced by RECPDCL. These two projects related to development of 220kV substations – one each at Hosakote and Devanahalli – both in Bengaluru (Rural) district.
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