Powergrid wins bid for SR–WR interregional transmission project

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has been declared the successful bidder to develop the “Inter-Regional Strengthening between Southern Region (SR) Grid and Western Region (WR) Grid” project under the Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) framework. The company received the Letter of Intent on 29 September 2025.

The project will be implemented on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. It involves the construction of 765 kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission lines spanning Karnataka and Maharashtra, along with associated line bays. The estimated cost is Rs 1,007 crore, with a scheduled completion period of 24 months.

The scheme is being executed through the project special purpose vehicle (SPV) “SR WR Power Transmission Ltd,” currently a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL). The SPV is expected to be transferred to the winning developer by 6 October 2025.

RECPDCL had shortlisted six bidders for the project. Alongside POWERGRID, the list included Adani Energy Solutions Ltd, Torrent Power, Enerica Infra 1 Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of IndiGrid), Montecarlo Ltd, and Resonia. Gujarat-based Montecarlo marked its return to the interstate transmission bidding space after a gap of more than two years, last participating in 2022 for the Rajgarh Transmission Ltd project.

The project entails a 240 circuit-kilometre (ckm) 765 kV double-circuit line between Parli New substation in Maharashtra and Bidar Pooling Station in Karnataka. It will include 240 megavolt-ampere reactive (MVAR) switchable line reactors on both circuits at the Bidar end.

Separately, another interregional scheme to enhance transfer between the SR and Eastern Region (ER) grids is under bidding, with PFC Consulting Limited serving as bid process coordinator. That project, housed under “SR and ER Power Transmission Ltd,” has an estimated cost of Rs 2,710 crore and a completion timeframe of 30 months.