Two interstate power transmission projects, awarded under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route, were commissioned in July 2021, according to the latest report by Central Electricity Authority. This takes the total tally of such projects in FY22 so far, to three.
While one project was commissioned by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, the second achievement was that of Adani Transmission Ltd.
PGCIL
The project commissioned by PGCIL was the “New WR-NR 765kV Interregional Corridor”. This project involving a 765kV double-circuit line connecting Vindhyachal Pooling Station (Madhya Pradesh) and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), aims at improving connectivity between the Western Region (WR) and the Northern Region (NR) regional grids.
The project, with an estimated outlay of Rs.916 crore, was acquired by PGCIL under the TBCB mode, in March 2018. The project SPV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PGCIL, is “WR-NR Power Transmission Ltd.” The double-circuit line, running nearly 190 km, was fully commissioned on July 31, 2021. Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd was awarded the project EPC contract in April 2018.
For PGCIL, this is second interstate/interregional TBCB power transmission project to commission this fiscal year. In May 2021, PGCIL announced the completion of the 765kV Ajmer-Phagi transmission scheme.
Adani Transmission
The project commissioned by Adani Transmission Ltd (ATL) related to power evacuation from the ultra mega solar power park in Fatehgarh in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. Developed by “Fatehgarh-Bhadla Transmission Ltd”, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ATL, the project involved, among other elements, a 400kV pooling station at Fatehgarh and a 765kV double-circuit line (292 km) connecting the aforementioned pooling station and the Bhadla pooling station of PGCIL. The project scope also covered two 400kV line bays at the Fatehgarh pooling station.
The project, with an estimated outlay of Rs.624 crore, was awarded to ATL in March 2018 (SPV acquisition date), under the TBCB mechanism. All the project elements were commissioned ahead of schedule. The overall project was declared commissioned on July 31, 2021, as against the scheduled commissioning date of September 2019.
Cumulative status
During the first four months of FY22 (April 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021), a total of three interstate/interregional projects were commissioned under the TBCB route. Two of them were by PGCIL and one by Adani Transmission. During the same period, five such new projects were awarded—all of them were won by PGCIL.
As of July 31, 2021, a total of 59 interstate/interregional power transmission projects were awarded under the TBCB route. Of these, 33 were commissioned as of given date, while 22 were under construction. The remaining four were in limbo – embroiled in litigation or officially scrapped.
Editor’s note: PGCIL is implementing a TBCB project under the project SPV “Fatehgarh-Bhadla Transco Ltd,” which is not to be confused with Adani Transmission Ltd’s “Fatehgarh-Bhadla Transmission Ltd” discussed in this story.
(Featured photograph for representation only)
