SJVN Limited (formerly Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam), a Mini Ratna Category-I Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) operating as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power, published an official Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) under Tender Reference PCD-1043(O&M)/2026 and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Bid Number GEM/2026/B/8014671 on 11 September 2026. This highly specialized geospatial and hydro-engineering tender calls for accredited surveying agencies to execute a comprehensive "Bathymetric Survey, Sedimentation Study, and Drone-Based Topographical Survey of the Nathpa Dam Reservoir" servicing the flagship 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.

INTRODUCTION

SJVN Limited (formerly Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam), a Mini Ratna Category-I Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) operating as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power, published an official Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) under Tender Reference PCD-1043(O&M)/2026 and Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Bid Number GEM/2026/B/8014671 on 11 September 2026. This highly specialized geospatial and hydro-engineering tender calls for accredited surveying agencies to execute a comprehensive "Bathymetric Survey, Sedimentation Study, and Drone-Based Topographical Survey of the Nathpa Dam Reservoir" servicing the flagship 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) in District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh.

With the online bid submission deadline scheduled for 06 October 2026 at 01:00 PM IST, this procurement represents a prime commercial opportunity for specialized drone survey startups, hydrographic surveying MSMEs, and environmental remote sensing consulting firms. Nathpa Jhakri is India's largest operational underground hydroelectric facility, operating on the silt-heavy Satluj River. Periodic reservoir sedimentation profiling and high-resolution aerial photogrammetry are mandatory statutory requirements to calculate live reservoir storage capacity, track silt deposition profiles, optimize desilting chamber flushing protocols, and satisfy Central Electricity Authority (CEA) dam safety guidelines. Eligible Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) holding valid Udyam registration benefit from a 100% exemption from the ₹56,000 Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). This TenderMan dossier provides an in-depth operational analysis of the project scope, equipment requirements, qualification criteria, Himalayan field challenges, and bid preparation strategies.

QUICK TENDER OVERVIEW

The 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station on the Satluj River is an engineering marvel, featuring a 62.5-meter high concrete gravity dam at Nathpa, an extensive underground desilting complex comprising four 525-meter long chambers, and a 27.4-kilometer headrace tunnel. Operating in the rugged terrain of the Higher Himalayas, the Satluj River carries massive glacial silt and quartz-rich sediment loads during the monsoon runoff. Over time, sediment accumulation reduces active storage capacity, alters flow hydraulics toward intake tunnels, and accelerates turbine runner erosion.

To manage these critical reservoir dynamics, SJVN executes periodic multi-sensor surveys combining underwater acoustics with aerial mapping. Bathymetric soundings chart underwater bed topography, while high-resolution drone photogrammetry and LiDAR capture exposed reservoir banks, upstream river reaches, and rim slope stability. The aggregated data is processed to generate comparative elevation-area-capacity curves, sedimentation distribution patterns, and projected useful reservoir life tables. For a specialized geospatial MSME, completing a hydrographic and drone study for India's premier hydro plant delivers supreme technical prestige and unlocks high-value opportunities across public dam management, port authorities, and inland waterways.

SJVN Limited is an established energy powerhouse with an operational portfolio spanning hydroelectric, thermal, wind, and solar assets across India and neighboring countries (including the 900 MW Arun-III project in Nepal). Headquartered in Shimla, SJVN is jointly owned by the Government of India (59.92%), the Government of Himachal Prad