Andhra Pradesh based BGR Energy Systems Limited has been awarded turnkey contracts worth Rs 36.61 crore by the Powergrid Corporation India for installing optic fibre ground wire (OPGW)-based communication backbone. The new OPGW communications solution would replace the unified load despatch and communication (ULDC) microwave links on its existing power transmission structures in Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.

The Powergrid tendering process, conducted on the global competitive bidding platform, had participation from Larsen & Toubro and Korea-based LS Cables. The orders bagged by BGR are to be completed in 18 months.

“Including this order for 1,575 KM, the OPGW length installed by BGR on a turnkey basis would have crossed 6,000 KM. A challenging aspect of this order is that it should be completely executed under live-line conditions,” V Balakrishnan, president and chief executive (electrical projects division) of BGR, said in a filing to the BSE on Monday.