Assocham seeks review of bidders' qualificationfor transmission units

Assocham suggested that qualification requirements be based on the value, voltage class and technical complexity of projects, rather than applying a single threshold across all transmission schemes.

New Delhi: Industry body Assocham has suggested strengthening the technical qualification requirements for companies bidding for transmission projects to ensure participation of experienced developers for timely execution of transmission lines and complex substations.

In a letter to the ministry, the association said the current tariff-based competitive bidding framework allows companies to qualify through broad infrastructure experience, without requiring experience in transmission projects, which could lead to risk of project delays. "The adequacy of technical pre-qualification for tariff-based competitive bidding has become critical," the association said in the letter, which ET has seen.

It suggested that qualification requirements be based on the value, voltage class and technical complexity of projects, rather than applying a single threshold across all transmission schemes. It also requested the ministry to undertake a consultative review of the existing technical pre-qualification framework, and assess the impact of proposed changes on the number of qualified bidders.