New Delhi/Durgapur: REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited (RECPDCL) has formally handed over the special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the Nawada–Durgapur power transmission project to Shivalaya Construction Limited, a move that sets in train construction of a high‑capacity inter‑state corridor that will terminate at Durgapur.
Handover and procurement route
The handover took place on 16 October, following Shivalaya Construction's selection as the successful bidder under a Tariff‑Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) process for the project, reported PSU Watch. The SPV, named Nawada Durgapur Power Transmission Limited, was transferred by Rajkumar Sonkar, Head of Department (CS) at RECPDCL, to Rajesh Kumar Singh, Head (Power and Transmission) at Shivalaya Construction Limited, in the presence of senior officials from RECPDCL, Shivalaya and the Central Transmission Utility of India Limited, the report said.
"ERES-47: Nawada–Durgapur–Jeerat (New) 765 kV Corridor,"
The project will be executed on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis, according to the reporting.
What is to be built
As described in the project brief, the scheme envisages:
- A new 765/400/220 kV substation at Nawada in Bihar;
- A new 765 kV switching station at Durgapur in West Bengal;
- A 765 kV double‑circuit transmission line of approximately 265 km between Nawada and Durgapur;
- A further 765 kV line of approximately 145 km between Durgapur and Jeerat, plus associated infrastructure and works.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Substation (Nawada) | 765/400/220 kV |
| Switching station (Durgapur) | 765 kV |
| Line Nawada–Durgapur | ~265 km, 765 kV double circuit |
| Line Durgapur–Jeerat | ~145 km, 765 kV |
Implications for Durgapur and the region
Durgapur, the industrial heart of Paschim Bardhaman and long a centre of steel and heavy engineering, stands to be an important node on the eastern grid if the planned switching station and corridors proceed as described. A 765 kV switching station at Durgapur would strengthen the capacity to transfer bulk power across states, bolster grid resilience and provide additional avenues for evacuation of generation from eastern states.
While the RECPDCL handover signals progress in procurement and project ownership, the reporting did not include a construction timeline, cost estimates or detailed commissioning schedule. The BOOT model, used frequently for large transmission projects, implies that Shivalaya Construction will finance, build and operate the assets for a concession period before transferring them back to the authority designated in the contract.
The project was identified in RECPDCL's role as bid process coordinator, with the Central Transmission Utility present at the handover, the report said. These institutional linkages are intended to ensure integration of the corridor with national grid planning and interstate power flows.
Local stakes and next steps
For industrial consumers, power utilities and local planners in Durgapur, the immediate questions will be the project schedule, right‑of‑way acquisition for the 265 km and 145 km corridors, environmental clearances and the timeline for commissioning of the switching station. The absence of those details in the handover announcement leaves the precise local impact and short‑term benefits uncertain.
Officials and stakeholders in the region will be watching subsequent disclosures from RECPDCL and Shivalaya Construction for tendering packages, construction milestones and social and environmental safeguards that must accompany a project of this scale.
Reporting: PSU Watch was the original source for the handover details cited in this dispatch.
