POWERGRID wins WR-ER grid scheme, LoI June 2026

Key development

Power Grid Corporation of India said it has emerged as the successful bidder under the tariff-based competitive bidding (TBCB) route for the “WR-ER Inter-Regional Network Expansion Scheme Part-A” Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) project. The company received the letter of intent (LoI) for the project on 16 June 2026. The scheme will be executed on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis.

This win adds another inter-regional strengthening package to POWERGRID’s recent set of TBCB awards across multiple corridors and states. The project focus is on expanding transmission capacity and improving connectivity between regions through new substations, extensions at existing nodes, and additional high-voltage lines.

What the WR-ER Scheme Part-A includes

The project comprises the establishment of two new 765/400 kV substations in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. In addition, the scope includes the extension of existing substations in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. The scheme also includes construction of 765 kV and 400 kV transmission lines traversing Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

These elements together indicate a multi-state execution footprint, combining greenfield substation builds with upgrades at existing grid points. The inclusion of both 765 kV and 400 kV lines suggests a mix of bulk power transfer and regional evacuation or interconnection needs, within the stated inter-regional network expansion context.

TBCB and BOOT: the delivery framework

POWERGRID’s win came through the tariff-based competitive bidding route, a standard process used to award large transmission projects. Under this mechanism, technically qualified bidders compete to build and operate the asset under regulated terms.

The project will be implemented on a BOOT basis. Under BOOT, the selected developer builds, owns, and operates the transmission assets for a defined period before transferring them. The company’s announcement confirms the execution model for this WR-ER package, consistent with other recent ISTS awards cited in the provided material.

Geographic footprint and asset buildout

The WR-ER Scheme Part-A spans several states through different components of the network:

• New substations: one each in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh at 765/400 kV level.
• Substation extensions: at existing substations in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
• Transmission lines: 765 kV and 400 kV lines traversing Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

The mix of locations indicates an inter-regional objective that requires both new transformation capacity and line connectivity across multiple state networks.

Recent comparable wins mentioned in the article data

The material provided also references other transmission projects where POWERGRID was declared successful bidder under TBCB and executed under BOOT. These provide context on the breadth of competitive awards and the types of assets involved.

One project described involves supporting renewable energy integration in Karnataka. POWERGRID won a transmission project to support the integration of 2.7 GW of renewable energy in Karnataka. It received the Letter of Intent dated March 30, 2026, on April 01, 2026. The project involves setting up a 400 kV double circuit transmission line across Karnataka and includes augmentation works at the Tumkur-II pooling station, including installation of interconnecting transformers and line bays.

The same set of details also names the project as “Transmission system strengthening for integration of additional RE potential at Davanagere (0.25 GW) and Bellary (2.75 GW),” with an estimated capital cost of Rs 1,111 crore. The technically qualified bidders listed were Adani Energy Solutions Limited, H.G. Infra Engineering Limited, POWERGRID, and Resonia Limited.

Other inter-regional strengthening projects cited

The provided text also references inter-regional strengthening projects involving the Southern, Eastern, and Western regions. One such project described is an inter-regional strengthening between the Southern Region (SR) Grid and Eastern Region (ER) Grid, involving 765 kV double circuit transmission lines traversing Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, along with associated line bays and reactors works at both ends, to be executed on BOOT under TBCB.

Another cited project is titled “Inter-Regional Strengthening between SR Grid and WR Grid,” with POWERGRID receiving the LoI on September 29, 2025. As described, it includes 765 kV double circuit transmission lines traversing through Karnataka and Maharashtra, along with associated line bays at both ends.

Summary table of projects and stated facts

Market impact and investor context from the provided text

The provided material includes one specific stock trading datapoint linked to a separate 2025 project announcement. It states that Power Grid Corporation of India shares were trading with a 0.57% dip on September 19, 2025 at 10:22 am, at ₹287.45 on the NSE.

No share price move or market reaction is stated in the provided text for the WR-ER Scheme Part-A LoI dated 16 June 2026. Similarly, there is no disclosed capital cost or commissioning timeline in the provided details for this particular project.

Why the WR-ER win matters in the broader pattern

Within the information provided, the WR-ER Scheme Part-A win fits a pattern of POWERGRID securing multi-state ISTS packages under TBCB, often implemented under BOOT. The details show recurring high-voltage buildouts, including 765 kV corridors, substation additions or expansions, and network strengthening across inter-regional boundaries.

The Karnataka project referenced alongside shows how such schemes are also tied to renewable energy integration, including explicitly stated capacities of 2.7 GW and specific nodes like Tumkur-II. While the WR-ER Scheme Part-A description does not explicitly mention renewable evacuation, its focus on inter-regional expansion and 765 kV infrastructure aligns with the type of backbone transmission work seen in other cited packages.

Conclusion

POWERGRID’s LoI for the WR-ER Inter-Regional Network Expansion Scheme Part-A on 16 June 2026 confirms its selection under TBCB for another ISTS project to be implemented on a BOOT basis. The project includes two new 765/400 kV substations in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, extensions in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 765 kV and 400 kV transmission lines across Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Further project timelines and financial details were not stated in the provided text.