Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has been granted an 18-month extension for completing the New Wanpoh substation augmentation project in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL) revised the project’s completion date to 30 June 2027, from the earlier 31 December 2025. The project involves augmenting PGCIL’s 400/220kV New Wanpoh substation with a new 400/220kV, 315 MVA interconnecting transformer (3×105 MVA) and two transformer bays—one each at 400kV and 220kV. The project, estimated at Rs 610 million, was awarded under the regulated tariff mechanism (RTM) on 22 March 2024 with an initial 21-month timeline.

PGCIL cited challenges in awarding the substation extension contract. Despite floating tenders in July 2024 and granting 17 extensions, no bids were received by December 2024. Commissioned in 2014, the New Wanpoh substation is a critical interstate transmission system (ISTS) element, linking the Kashmir Valley to the National Grid and forming part of the Northern Region System Strengthening Scheme – XVI.