REC Power Development and Consultancy (RECPDCL) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) to select a transmission service provider to build, own, operate, and transfer a 765/400/220 kV AIS intrastate transmission project at Apta in Raigad, Maharashtra.

This project is planned to cater to the envisaged exponential data center load in Navi Mumbai area. It will also facilitate a reliable power supply to green hydrogen production and utilization projects.

Bids must be submitted by February 9, 2026. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹239.6 million (~$2.69 million) and a tender fee of ₹500,000 (~$5,638) plus 18% GST. The successful bidder must submit a contract performance guarantee of ₹599 million (~$6.75 million).

The project includes a new air-insulated 765/400/220 kV Apta substation equipped with 3 x 1500 MVA 765/400 kV inter-connecting transformers (ICTs), 2 x 500 MVA 400/220 kV ICTs, a 240 MVAr 765 kV bus reactor, a 125 MVAr 400 kV bus reactor, associated ICT, line, reactor, bus coupler, and transfer bus coupler bays, and space provision for future bays and ICTs.

The project also comprises three 765 kV double-circuit overhead lines from Apta to Mahape, South Kalamb, and Dolvi, with corresponding bays at the remote ends; eight 400 kV spare-end bays for data center load; and a 220 kV double-circuit line from Apta to the existing 220 kV Apta substation.

The transmission service provider will be responsible for financing, designing, engineering, procuring, constructing, testing, commissioning, operating, and maintaining the entire system for 35 years from the scheduled commercial operation date.

The successful bidder must also secure the required substation land, additional land if GIS bays are opted for, right-of-way, and statutory clearances, and obtain a transmission license from the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Bidders must have experience in developing infrastructure sector projects over the last five years, with an aggregate capital expenditure of at least ₹11.98 billion (~$135.1 million), and each project must have a minimum capital expenditure of ₹2.39 billion (~$26.95 million).

Alternatively, bidders may qualify through the construction experience route, which requires the technically evaluated entity to have received aggregate payments of at least ₹11.98 billion (~$135.1 million) for fully completed construction works in the infrastructure sector within the last five financial years, with a minimum of ₹2.39 billion (~$26.95 million) received from each project.

Bidders must have a net worth of ₹4.79 billion (~$54 million).

The project must be completed within 24 months.

In September this year, RECPDCL invited bids to set up an interstate transmission system to integrate 250 MW of renewable energy at Davanagere and 2.75 GW at Bellary in Karnataka.

In June, RECPDCL invited bids for the implementation of a 765 kV interstate transmission system between Parli New, Maharashtra, and Bidar, Karnataka, on a build-own-operate-and-transfer basis.