New Delhi, Aug. 1: Bidding for the 4,000 mega watt (MW) ultra mega power project in Orissa has caught the interest of 20 power generating firms including Tatas, Adani, Essar and state-owned NTPC.

“For the Bedabahal UMPP, 20 firms have shown interest,” a source in the Power Finance Corporation said.

Sources said other firms which are in the fray include GVK Energy, Welspun Energy, Torrent, GMR Energy, Jindal Power, Sterlite Energy, AES India, JSW Energy, L&T, CESE, Aditya Birla Power Venture and Jaiprakash Power Venture.

Coal blocks for the Orissa UMPP were cleared recently after delay of over an year due to environmental hurdles. These blocks were stuck in the policy of ‘Go, No-go’ regime. The three coal blocks allotted to the project are — Meenakshi-A, Meenakshi-B and Meenakshi Dipside.

The preliminary bids would be evaluated and the bidding companies which qualify the criteria set by PFC Consulting — the wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Finance Corporation and also the nodal agency for this UMPP — would be asked to submit the final bids.

“It can take between two to three months for the evaluation of these initials bids and the qualifying companies would be asked to bid during the final round,” a source added.

The UMPP at Orissa is the fifth in the series.