An intrastate transmission scheme in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir, for which bidder selection process had begun, has come up for fresh bidding. The original scheme has now been bifurcated into two independent ones.
The scheme in question is formally referred to as “Execution of system strengthening/upgradation works and intrastate transmission system projects by creation/augmentation of grid substations and laying of transmission lines in UT of J&K.”
The scheme came up for bidder selection in early 2025, with PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) appointed as the bid process coordinator. The project was housed under project SPV “Wahipora & Sallar Transmission Ltd,” a wholly-owned subsidiary of PFCCL.
After nearly 20 extensions in the bid submission date, which was originally set at February 28, 2025, responses to RfP were opened on February 16, 2026, and two bidders – Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) – were qualified for opening of initial price bids.
However, even after having reached this stage, the bidding process was cancelled and bids are being invited afresh, now under two independent packages.
The exact reason for re-inviting bids and restructuring the scheme were not immediately available. An email query sent to the bid process coordinator did not elicit response till the time of filing this story.
The bifurcation schemes are as follows:
- Establishment of 220/132kV grid substation at Rajouri-II and Akhnoor-II in the UT of J&K
- Establishment of 220/132/11kV GIS grid substation at Wahipora and 220/66/11kV grid substation at Baghthali, Kathua in the UT of J&K
Scheme #1 involves laying of downstream transmission network from the 400/220kV Siot ISTS grid substation at Rajouri. This, in turn, will entail creation of two new substations – Rajouri-II and Akhnoor-II (Domana), and associated lines.
Scheme #2 entails development of the two greenfield substations mentioned. The Wahipora substation is expected to meet electricity demand and support economic activities in the Kashmir region where reliable power supply has been a perennial challenge.
Timelines
By current timelines, the technical and financial bids, for both the schemes, are scheduled to be opened on October 16, 2026.
TBCB in UT of J&K
Given that bidding for the original scheme, housed under Wahipora & Sallar Transmission Ltd, now stands cancelled, the two schemes, now under bidding, represent UT of J&K’s first attempt at harnessing the TBCB philosophy for intrastate grid development.
It may be mentioned that in its order dated May 1, 2023, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for J&K and Ladakh (JERC), recommended that all intra-UT projects in J&K, with an anticipated cost of Rs.100 crore or more, should be developed under the TBCB framework. This would be applicable for all new intra-UT projects as well as augmentation of existing intra-UT project, irrespective of the voltage level. The nodal agency to this effect is the UT transmission utility Jammu & Kashmir Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (JKPTCL).
Featured photograph (source: PGCIL) showing a transmission line of PGCIL in Leh, UT of Ladakh, is for representation only