The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) issued an order on September 30, 2025, in Petition No. 725/TL/2025 concerning the application of Raghanesda RE Transmission Limited for the grant of a transmission licence. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd., sought permission to build, own, operate, and transfer a transmission system for evacuating 3 GW of renewable energy power from the Raghanesda area of Gujarat under Phase I. The project involves establishing a 765/400 kV substation at Raghanesda with bus reactors, interconnecting lines to Banaskantha, and switchyard facilities to support solar projects from companies like Azure Power and Sunsure Solarpark.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had earlier identified the Raghanesda region in Banaskantha as a renewable energy zone with a potential of over 5 GW. In the initial phase, 3 GW was considered under the inter-state transmission system (ISTS). To develop this system, PFC Consulting Limited was appointed as the Bid Process Coordinator. The bidding process, which began in September 2024 and concluded in July 2025, attracted eight major companies, including Power Grid Corporation of India, Adani Energy Solutions, Reliance Industries, Torrent Power, and others. After a round of technical and financial evaluations, followed by an e-reverse auction on the MSTC portal, Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd. emerged as the successful bidder, quoting the lowest annual transmission charges of ₹2,328.71 million.
Following the bid, a Letter of Intent was issued in June 2025, and the company acquired full ownership of Raghanesda RE Transmission Limited in July 2025 after furnishing a Contract Performance Guarantee of ₹57.50 crore. A Transmission Service Agreement was also signed with the Central Transmission Utility of India (CTUIL). The project, which includes critical elements like a high-capacity GIS substation and interconnections at 220 kV and 400 kV levels, is scheduled for phased completion between October 2027 and March 2028. The system will cater to connectivity applications totaling about 3.45 GW, including projects by firms such as Renew Solar Power, JSW Neo Energy, Acme Solar Holdings, Sprng Energy, and others.
The Commission observed that the bidding process was conducted in line with government guidelines, and the selected bidder met the required conditions. Notices about the application were published in English and Gujarati newspapers, but no objections were received. CTUIL also recommended the grant of a licence, citing the importance of the project in helping India achieve its renewable energy target of 500 GW by 2030. The CERC acknowledged the petitioner’s compliance with regulations and stated that a public notice would be published to invite objections or suggestions from the public until October 14, 2025, before final approval. The Commission emphasized that the petitioner must ensure the timely and quality implementation of the project as per the Transmission Service Agreement and applicable technical standards. The matter will next be heard on October 16, 2025.
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