ABB, a leader in power and automation technologies, has secured substation orders worth Rs 425 crore from Powergrid, Country's largest power distributor, to boost capacity and help improve grid reliability.

The scope of contract includes design, supply, installation and commissioning of 765/400 kilovolt (kV) substations at Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Wardha (Maharashtra), Bilaspur and Seoni (both Madhya Pradesh), and of a 400/220 kV substation at Palakkad (Kerala).

The projects are expected to be completed by mid-2011.

A company official, who did not want to be identified informed that the sub-station projects are part of Powergrid's programme to enhance the national transmission grid and to strengthen the inter-regional power transfer capacity to around 37,000 megawatts by 2012.

The shares of ABB settled the day at Rs 478, down 2% compared to its previous close while, Power grid’s scrip closed the day down 5% at Rs 92 on BSE.