Three top players in the fray for major ISTS scheme spanning Rajasthan, MP
- February 27, 2025
Three of the biggest developers are in the fray for an interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme straddling Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
It is reliably learnt that Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL), Sterlite Power (now Resonia) and Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL) have prequalified for opening of initial price bids of an ISTS scheme housed under “Rajasthan V Power Transmission Ltd,” for which developer selection is taking place through the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) framework.
Estimated to cost a little of Rs.5,000 crore and with a gestation period of 24 months, this scheme seeks to create renewable energy evacuation infrastructure for 4 GW from the Sirohi/Nagaur complex in Rajasthan.
Interestingly, the geographical footprint of this transmission scheme will cover the northern region (Rajasthan) as well as the western region (Madhya Pradesh).
The scheme is officially termed as “Transmission system for evacuation of power from Rajasthan REZ Phase-V (Part 1: GW) [Sirohi/Nagaur] Complex” and will have two broad components:
- Transmission system for immediate evacuation of power from Sirohi substation (2 GW)
- Transmission system for common evacuation of power from Sirohi PS (2 GW) and Merta-II PS (2 GW)
By current timelines, bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) expects to complete the bidding process and handover the project SPV “Rajasthan V Power Transmission Ltd” to the successful developer by March 10, 2025.
Project outline
Component #1 described above will mainly involve augmentation of the Sirohi substation in Rajasthan by addition of 5×500 MVA, 400/220kV ICTs. Component #2 will entail building a 765kV double-circuit line from Sirohi to Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh (320 km) as well as a similar line from Mandsaur to Khandwa (both in Madhya Pradesh), running 260 km, among other elements.
Schemes close to finalization
According to estimates made by T&D India, there are at least four ISTS-TBCB schemes, all being handled by RECPDCL for which bidders have been shortlisted for opening of initial price bids, and winners are likely to be announced soon. The project SPVs of these four schemes along with the shortlisted bidders are:
- Ratle Kiru Power Transmission— PGCIL, AESL, Sterlite Power, IndiGrid
- Banaskantha Transco Ltd— PGCIL, KCC Buildcon
- Kurnool-IV Transmission Ltd– PGCIL, Sterlite, AESL, Megha Engg, Tata Power
- Rajasthan V Power Transmission Ltd – PGCIL, Sterlite, AESL
Besides, PGCIL has been named successful developer for three ISTS-TBCB schemes for which the formal handover of project SPV from the bid process coordinator was pending as of February 26, 2025.
Featured photograph is for representation only
