Seven entities have qualified for opening of price bids for an intrastate transmission system (InSTS) scheme in Maharashtra, housed under “Velgaon Power Transmission Ltd.”
The scheme is being developed under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) mechanism with REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) acting as the bid process coordinator.
The seven bidders that have qualified on the basis of their technical bids and eligible for opening of initial price bids are:
- Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL
- Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL)
- Resonia Ltd (formerly Sterlite Grid32 Ltd)
- Tata Power Company Ltd
- KCC Buildcon Pvt Ltd
- Ceigall India Ltd
- Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (MSETCL)
It is interesting to note that state transmission service provider MSETCL is also amongst the bidders and will be contending for the project, alongside six other players.
KCC Buildcon Pvt Ltd and Ceigall India are relatively new to the power transmission development space under the TBCB modality. KCC was in the race for some ISTS-TBCB schemes such as Raghanesda RE Transmission Ltd and Banaskantha Transco Ltd, but has yet to record its first formal win.
For PGCIL, which has developed InSTS-TBCB schemes in other states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, this would potentially mark the Central PSU’s entry in Maharashtra’s intrastate power transmission space.
The project
The Velgaon intrastate scheme involves development of a new 400/220kV GIS substation at Velgaon near Palghar in Thane district of Maharashtra. The substation, expected to commission in 18 months from the formal transfer of SPV, will be equipped with 3×500 MVA, 400/220kV interconnecting transformers. The project also entails supporting infrastructure like line bays, bus reactors and transformer bays.
More schemes
Maharashtra has adopted the TBCB framework for developing its intrastate grid and has collectively engaged RECPDCL and PFC Consulting Ltd (PFCCL) to conduct the bidding process for ten schemes of which bidding for seven is currently underway.
Featured photograph (source: GE Vernova T&D India Ltd) is for representation only