Only two contenders – Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) – are in the fray for the Bidar pooling station augmentation scheme in Karnataka.
It is reliably learnt that PGCIL and MEIL are the only contenders for an ISTS-TBCB scheme housed under “Bidar Transco Ltd” incorporated on November 5, 2024 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of bid process coordinator REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd (RECPDCL).
As per the current schedule, RECPDCL expects to issue the letter of intent to the successful developer by January 10, 2025, followed by the formal transfer of “Bidar Transco Ltd,” by January 20, 2025.
A relatively small scheme with an envisaged cost of Rs.288 crore, Bidar Transco Ltd seeks to augment transformation capacity at the Bidar Pooling Station (PS) in Karnataka by 3 GW. This will be achieved by adding three ICTs of 500 MVA, 400/220kV and one ICT of 1500 MVA, 765/400kV at the pooling station. With this, Bidar PS will have eight ICTs of 500 MVA, 400/220kV and four of the 1500 MVA, 765/400kV variety.
The scheme is envisaged for completion progressively from within 24 months of SPV transfer up to June 30, 2027.
Currently connectivity applications (at 220kV level) have been granted for about 2,500 MW at the Bidar PS. The augmentation under discussion will enable further connectivity of 600 MW and help meet “N-1” contingency criteria at the pooling station.
It may be noted that the Bidar PS is currently under construction through a TBCB subsidiary of PGCIL, named Powergrid Bidar Transmission Ltd. With total transformation capacity of 7 GW coming from 5×500 MVA, 400/220kV and 3×1500 MVA, 765/400kV ICTs, the Bidar PS is scheduled to commission by February 2026.
MEIL in ISTS-TBCB space
According to an analysis by T&D India, it is after a very long time that Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd is showing activity in the ISTS-TBCB bidding space. The Hyderabad-based company was not amongst the contenders of ISTS-TBCB schemes in FY25, so far.
MEIL currently has one ISTS-TBCB scheme “Khandukhal Rampura Transmission Ltd” that is under construction. In April 2023, MEIL had won an ISTS-TBCB scheme housed under “KPS1 Transmission Ltd,” which was eventually acquired by Adani Energy Solutions Ltd.
MEIL is relatively more active in the intrastate transmission system (InSTS) space having won four schemes under the TBCB mode – three in Uttar Pradesh (Meerut-Shamli, Tirwa and Jewar) and one in Madhya Pradesh (MP Transmission Package-1).
Also read: PGCIL sells residual stake in four associate companies to PGInvIT
Featured photograph (source: MPPTCL) is for representation only
