Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) along with three other bidders have qualified for opening of price bids for an ISTS-TBCB scheme housed under “NERGS-I Power Transmission Ltd.”
The three contenders alongside PGCIL are Sterlite Power, Techno Electric & Engineering Company Ltd and India Grid Trust (IndiGrid). It may be noted that IndiGrid is bidding for the project as a consortium of IndiGrid 1 (70 per cent) and IndiGrid 2 (30 per cent).
The ISTS-TBCB scheme in discussion is officially termed as “North Eastern Region Generation Scheme – I” and is envisaged for completion by December 31, 2025. REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL) is acting as the bid process coordinator for this scheme.
Estimated to cost around Rs.214 crore, this project will take shape in Assam. The major elements of this scheme are a new 400kV switching station at Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. This station will be upgraded to 400/220kV level in future. A 20-km LILO of both circuits of the existing 400kV double-circuit line from Misa substation to New Mariani substation is also part of the project. Both the Misa and New Mariani substations are owned by PGCIL.
According to information available with T&D India, Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL), a state government discom, had applied for ISTS connectivity under GNA Regulations 2022 for its new solar generation capacity of 1,000 mw to be installed in Karbi Anglong, Bokajan, Assam. In-principle connectivity has already been granted to APDCL.
The augmentation envisaged under NERGS-I seeks to address this connectivity and is being treated as an interstate transmission system (ISTS) scheme. The completion date of this scheme (December 31, 2025) matches with the start date of connectivity granted to APDCL.
ISTS-TBCB in FY25
In FY25 so far (April 1, 2024 to around May 20, 2024), a total of seven ISTS-TBCB schemes have been awarded, according to estimates made by T&D India. PGCIL has been most successful with five wins while India Grid Trust and Techno Electric & Engineering have landed one each.
Also read: PGCIL Commissions Neemuch Interstate Transmission System Project
Featured photograph is for representation only
