Sterlite Grid on Thursday said it has tied up with US-based Burns & McDonnell for implementing transmission projects and will initially work on strengthening the link between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir.
"Sterlite Power Grid Ventures Ltd (Sterlite Grid) and the global leader in Transmission and Distribution Engineering, Burns & McDonnell International, Inc have signed an agreement to apply <g data-gr-id="19">world class</g> engineering and construction methodologies on transmission projects in India," the company said in a statement. Both the companies will initially work on northern region system's 'Northern Region Strengthening Scheme' project (NRSS 29) which will carry 2,000 MW power to <g data-gr-id="20">energy starved</g> region of the Kashmir valley from the power-surplus Punjab, it said.
Sterlite Grid will invest close to Rs 3,000 crore towards this critical asset comprising of 900 circuit kilometres (Ckm) of transmission lines and 400 <g data-gr-id="26">kilovolt</g> (kV) <g data-gr-id="23">gas insulated</g> substation (GIS) at Amargarh. Responding to the urgency expressed by the centre and state government, Sterlite Grid has committed to <g data-gr-id="25">implement</g> this 50 months project in less than 40 months. "We would like to eliminate transmission line delays by delivering these projects in half the benchmark time. Our partnership with Burns & McDonnell will help us achieve this goal by bringing cutting edge technologies to India," Sterlite Grid Chairman Pratik Agarwal said.
Due to extreme climatic conditions in Jammu & Kashmir, there will be a limited window for construction. The two companies will implement innovative designs and mechanised construction, which may include Heli-crane construction, micro-pile foundations, and special tower designs that would enable the project to be commissioned faster.