Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a Maharatna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Power, has successfully acquired the project special purpose vehicle (SPV) “Bhadla-III & Bikaner-III Transmission Limited.” This acquisition, completed on August 30, was part of a competitive tariff-based bidding process (TBCB) managed by PFC Consulting Limited (PFCCL). PGCIL emerged as the winning bidder against several private sector competitors.
The project involves establishing a transmission system that includes a 765kV double-circuit transmission line linking the Bhadla-III and Bikaner-III substations, along with the associated bay extension work at these locations in Rajasthan. This inter-state transmission system project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
The new transmission link between Bhadla-III and Bikaner-III substations will enhance the flexibility of power transfer from renewable energy (RE) clusters in the region and strengthen the resilience of the transmission corridor in these complexes. Additionally, the project will accommodate future renewable energy generators that will be established in the Bhadla-III region.
PGCIL, through its various SPVs acquired via tariff bidding, is currently developing multiple transmission system projects on a build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) basis. These initiatives aim to boost India’s transmission infrastructure, facilitating the evacuation of green energy to the national grid, and aligning with the government’s goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
As of July 31, PGCIL operates 278 substations and more than 1,77,790 circuit kilometers of transmission lines, with a transformation capacity of 532,446 MVA. By adopting advanced technological tools, automation, and digital solutions, PGCIL has maintained an impressive average transmission system availability of over 99.8 percent.
