Power Grid, Sterlite in fray for Rs 9k-cr Waranagal project

State-run Power Grid, Sterlite, Adani, Essel and Reliance Power Transmission are in the fray for Warangal transmission project with an estimated cost of around Rs 9,000 crore, the largest so far on the block.

"Last date for submitting financial bids for Warora-Warangal project has been extended to February 9 as the qualified bidders sought more time to study the large-scale project," a source said.

Power Grid Corp, Sterlite, Adani, Essel and Reliance Power Transmission have qualified to submit the financial bids.

Power Finance Corporation's arm PFC Consulting has invited request for proposals (financial bids) for the project, which were to be submitted by January 29 earlier.

According to the previous schedule, the financial bids for the project were to open on February 5. Based on the lowest annual tariff, successful bidder was to be announced after a week on February 12.

"If everything goes well the name of the successful bidder can be announced by the end of this month," the source said.

To develop the country's power transmission capacity, the government is in the process of auctioning projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore in the current fiscal.

These are auctioned through the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) process. Under this arrangement, the developer quoting the lowest annual tariff is awarded the project.

The Warangal project is one such case and the largest so far this fiscal in terms of value (cost).

The project involves setting up of 765/400 kv sub-stations at Warangal in Andhra Pradesh and includes a series of 765 kv double-circuit lines including Warora (Pool) to Warangal (New), Warangal (New) to Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Kurnool, and Warangal (New) to Chilakaluripeta.

There are two 400-kv double-circuit lines which will also be part of this transmission project.

The main aim is to augment power supply to the southern grid.