Banihal, Feb 6: NHPC Limited, a Navratna public sector enterprise of the Government of India, has invited online E-tenders for the execution of several major works related to the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project in Ramban district.
The total estimated value of the tendered works stands at Rs 5,129 crore, marking a significant step towards the long-awaited implementation of the mega power project.
According to an official notice issued on February 5, NHPC has sought bids under the Domestic Competitive Bidding (DCB) mode, limited exclusively to Indian companies and contractors, for Package-I of the project. The scope of work under this package includes construction of diversion tunnels and adits, cofferdams for diverting the Chenab River, access tunnels and roads, as well as dam construction and hydro-mechanical works.
NHPC officials stated that the estimated cost of this package is Rs 5,129.03 crore, with a completion period of nine years (108 months). Interested bidders are required to submit an earnest money deposit of Rs 10 crore, while the cost of the tender document has been fixed at Rs 40,000. The tenders are scheduled to be opened on March 24.
Local residents of Ramban district have welcomed the development, expressing hope that the commencement of on-ground work on the Sawalkote project will generate large-scale employment opportunities and significantly boost the local economy, particularly in the Ramban region.
The 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River is spread across the districts of Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur. The dam will be constructed in Ramban district, the diversion tunnel for the Chenab River in Reasi district, and the underground powerhouse in Udhampur district. Conceived over six decades ago, the Sawalkote project, once completed, will become the largest hydropower project in J&K and the third largest in the country, with an estimated total project cost of Rs 31,380 crore.
The project has faced prolonged delays over the past several decades due to various reasons. Last year, the cancellation of tenders shortly after their issuance in July 2025 had caused widespread disappointment among the people of J&K, especially unemployed youth awaiting job opportunities. However, the fresh issuance of tenders has revived optimism, particularly among residents of the Tanger panchayat area of Ramban district where major portion of Sawalkote project including dam is located.
Over the past seven to eight years, several preliminary works, including the construction of a 1.5-kilometre access tunnel and a bridge across the Chenab River in the Tangar area, were carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC). In 2021, the project was transferred from JKPDC to NHPC. Subsequently, in January 2021, a 40-year Memorandum of Understanding MoU was signed between NHPC and the Jammu and Kashmir administration for the construction, operation and eventual transfer of the project back to JKPDC. During this period, NHPC addressed most of the financial, environmental and forest-related clearances, paving the way for the issuance of the first major construction tender for the Sawalkote project.
It may be recalled here that following the Pahalgam incident in April last year, the Central Government, while announcing the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, had also reiterated its resolve to expedite work on the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project. Although an earlier tender invited from global consultancy firms in July 2025 was cancelled in August, delaying the project further, the latest tendering process has renewed hopes that the long-pending project will finally move towards implementation.
