REC Power Development and Consultancy (RECPDCL) has invited bids to develop an inter-state transmission system to augment the Kankani 400 kV grid substation to 765 kV, along with associated transmission lines, to evacuate 2.8 GW of renewable energy in Rajasthan.

The project will evacuate renewable power from the Barmer and Jaisalmer regions to load centers around Jodhpur.

The last date to submit bids is March 18, 2026, and bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹300 million (~$3.32 million) and a contract performance guarantee of ₹750 million (~$8.31 million).

The project must be completed within 30 months.

The scope of work covers the establishment of a new 765/400 kV, 2×1500 MVA AIS substation at Kankani (Jodhpur) by upgrading the existing 400 kV grid substation of Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam.

It also involves creating future space provision for 765 kV line bays to terminate the 765 kV D/C Kankani–Jaisalmer (Teliwara) line using Hex Zebra equivalent AL-59 conductor.

Future space provisions must be created for a 765 kV, 240 MVAr line reactor, along with associated bays, 400 kV line bays, a 765/400 kV, 1500 MVA interconnecting transformer (ICT), a 765 kV ICT bay, a 400 kV I/C bay, and two 765 kV line bays.

Successful bidders must create space provisions for the future development of 765 kV switchable line reactors and associated bays.

They must also undertake work at the 765 kV grid substation in Phagi and transmission line work on the 765 kV D/C Kankani–Phagi line using Hex Zebra equivalent AL-59 conductor.

The project will provide a reliable power supply to the western region of Rajasthan under both normal and peak-load conditions and relieve transmission constraints in the existing network.

The scope of work entails the design, engineering, construction, erection, testing, and commissioning of the project, as well as surveys, the formulation of a detailed project report, arranging finance, project management, and securing consents, clearances, and permits.

Successful bidders must have developed projects totaling ₹15 billion (~$166.20 million) in the infrastructure sector over the last eight years. Each project must be of at least ₹3 billion (~$33.25 million) and must have been commissioned at least seven days before the bid deadline. For part-commissioned projects, the capital expenditure required for part-commissioning will be treated as meeting the technical requirements.

They must have either executed all the projects directly or held at least 26% of the company’s shareholding that executed the projects.

Alternatively, bidders may have received aggregate payments for infrastructure projects amounting to ₹15 billion (~$166.20 million) over the last eight financial years, with at least ₹3 billion (~$33.25 million) received for each project.

Bidders must have a net worth of at least ₹6 billion (~$66.49 million).

According to the state’s load dispatch center, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Prasaran Nigam, Rajasthan has an estimated spare transmission capacity of up to 13 GW in the financial year 2026 for future renewable energy projects. The state’s available transmission capacity will drop to 1.9 GW by FY 2029.

Last year, RECPDCL issued a request for proposal to select a transmission service provider to build, own, operate, and transfer a 765/400/220 kV AIS intrastate transmission project at Balsane in Dhule, Maharashtra.