Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), in a very recent order, has granted interim transmission licence to Angul Sundargarh Transmission Ltd (ASTL) that is developing an interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme in Odisha, under the TBCB framework.
ASTL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HG Infra Engineering Ltd and is developing an ISTS scheme in Odisha, termed as “Eastern Region Generation Scheme – I” or “ERGS-I”.
In its order, CERC has directed ASTL to file a public notice seeking objections/suggestions to the transmission licence. The petitioner ASTL is expected file any such feedback before CERC, by February 24, 2026. CERC will then take up the matter for hearing on February 26, 2026.
With an estimated cost of Rs.413 crore, ERGS-I is a relatively small scheme that aims at providing ISTS connectivity to the upcoming 3×800-MW Talabira power generation plant of NLC India Ltd (formerly Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd). The project involves putting up a LILO of both circuits of the existing 765kV (2xS/C) Angul-Sundargarh lines at the Talabira generation switchyard. The project, with a total transmission length of 100 ckm, is envisaged for completion by March 2028.
Bidding process
ERGS-I has an interesting bidding history. Bid process coordinator PFC Consulting Ltd initiated the bidding process in March 2024. In response, only two bidders – Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and Tata Power – submitted their bids. However, it was found that both bids were substantially higher than the internal estimates of the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC).
As a result, the bidding process was rescinded and fresh bids were called in January 2025. This time, there were three bidders – PGCIL, Tata Power and a new aspirant HG Infra Engineering Ltd.
HGIEL’s initial bid, at Rs.431.11 million, was itself very aggressive. It was 52 per cent lower than the L2 bid and 55 per cent lower than the L3 bid. With such significant difference in bids, the L2 and L3 bidders did not participate in the e-reverse auction (e-RA). As the e-RA routine did not take place, HGIEL’s initial bid was declared as the final winning bid.
It may be noted that the BEC estimates a “benchmark” tariff based on CERC norms, before the bidding process starts. If all bids are found to be higher than this benchmark, the bidding process is called off and fresh bids are invited.
HGIEL’s debut
The scheme is significant as it marked the debut of HGIEL in the interstate transmission development space. As of February 16, 2026, HGIEL had only the Angul-Sundargarh ISTS-TBCB scheme in its portfolio, but the been amongst the pre-qualified bidders with respect to at least six other ISTS-TBCB projects.
Talabira power plant
The 3×800-MW Talabira supercritical coal-fired power plant of NLC India Ltd is a pithead-based plant coming up in Jharsuguda district, Odisha. Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd was awarded the EPC contract, valued at Rs.18,255 crore, in January 2024. In November that year, NLC India Ltd issued the notice to proceed (NTP) to BHEL, and the project is currently under construction. According to official reports, the three generation units are expected to commission by February 2030, August 2030 and February 2031, respectively.
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