Four bidders have technically qualified for submission of price bids for an intrastate transmission system (InSTS) scheme in Madhya Pradesh, being developed under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mode.
It is learnt that bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) has qualified the following four bidders for opening of initial price bids for the intrastate scheme housed under “Mahan Transmission Ltd.”
The bidders are:
- Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL)
- Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL)
- Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL)
- KCC Buildcon Pvt Ltd
While the first three are established players, the fourth – KCC Builcon Pvt Ltd –is making its debut in the power transmission development space, according to information available with T&D India. Incidentally, KCC has also prequalified for an ISTS-TBCB scheme, as reported by T&D India on February 19, 2025.
“Mahan Transmission Ltd” will develop an intrastate scheme officially termed as “Development of intrastate transmission system for evacuation of 1,230 MW power (MPPMCL portion) through STU network from proposed 2×800-MW thermal power project of Mahan Energen Ltd (MEL).”
By current timelines, RECPDCL expects to complete the bidding process and hand over Mahan Transmission Ltd, currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of RECPDCL, to the successful developer by February 27, 2025.
Mahan Energen Ltd (MEL) is a subsidiary of Adani Power Ltd and the InSTS scheme under discussion relates to evacuation from the capacity expansion of 2×800-MW at the Mahan power plant. The InSTS scheme mainly involves building two 400/220/132kV substations — one each at Rewa and Amarpatan – along with associated lines.
TBCB in MP’s intrastate grid
As already reported by T&D India on November 21, 2024, this is the fourth instance where the TBCB modality is being deployed for developing the intrastate grid in Madhya Pradesh. It is interesting to note that three bidders qualified for Mahan Transmission Ltd – PGCIL, AESL and MEIL – are already involved in the three existing InSTS-TBCB schemes in Madhya Pradesh, housed under the following project SPVs:
- Powergrid Bhind Guna Transmission Ltd (PGCIL, Commissioned)
- MP Power Transmission Package-I Ltd (MEIL, Under construction)
- MP Power Transmission Package-II Ltd (AESL, Under construction)
The “Package-I” and “Package-II” projects listed about are expected to together add 35 substations with total transformation capacity f of over 6,300 MVA, as well as nearly 2,000 ckm of transmission lines. In fact, “Package-I” envisages what would be the first 400kV GIS substation in Madhya Pradesh, coming up at Mandideep.
ISTS dimension
It may be noted that another ISTS-TBCB scheme housed under “MEL Transmission Ltd” involves ISTS connectivity to Mahan Energen Ltd’s existing 2×600-MW power plant. PFC Consulting Ltd is the bid process coordinator, and according to the current schedule, the last date for submission of technical and financial bids is February 20, 2025. This submission date was extended at least eight times from the originally envisaged November 18, 2024.
Also read:Four qualify for Ratle-Kiru hydropower evacuation ISTS-TBCB scheme
Featured photograph (source: MPPTCL) is for representation only
