Indian company GMR Energy has been awarded the auction of the Bajoli Holi hydro scheme in Himachal Pradesh, and has transferred the upfront premium payment to the state government.

The company won the auction for the 180MW run-of-river project in Chama district and has a 40-year concession from the start of commercial operations. The contract was awarded on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis.

Under the agreement, GMR will supply an agreed proportion of the generated electricity from the plant on the river Ravi to the state at no cost.

The company is also building the 160MW hydro plant in Talong district of Arunachal Pradesh state on a BOOT basis, and is developing the 140MW scheme on the river Alaknanda in Uttaranchal state.

GMR Energy is part of the Indian firm GMR Infrastructure Ltd.