Reliance Infra listed as IT implementation agency for SEBs
31 Mar 2009
Reliance Infrastructure Limited, a unit of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, has been empanelled as the information technology implementation agency with Power Finance Corporation (PFC), for implementing information technologies in state electricity boards.
Reliance Infra is the only company with the unique recognition of being an IT consultant as well as an IT implementation agency, the company said in a release.
Earlier, Reliance Infra, with interest in the infrastructure and power utilities, had been empanelled as an IT consultant,
The union ministry of power, through the PFC had envisioned the adoption of IT initiatives in various SEBs, for which it has allocated Rs10,000 crore. The SEBs would be initially getting funds out of this allocation as loans and subsequently, on successful completion of the defined objectives, ie, establishing the baseline data for AT & C losses through the implementation of IT initiatives, the same would be converted into a grant.
SEBs desiring to have allocations out of this funds are expected to undertake IT initiatives as a part of accelerated power development and reform programme (APDRP) and are required to appoint an IT consultant and IT implementation agency, who are empanelled with the PFC.
PFC, the nodal agency for releasing funds under APDRP, has identified systems integrator (lead for IT implementation), GIS, meter data acquisition provider, and network service provider as the four key roles for IT implementation in SEBs.
Among all the 85 participating companies, Reliance Infra is the only integrated power utility company that received empanelment as an IT implementation agency for all the four roles. The rest of the participants were representing IT sector, telecom sector or either of the streams in utility or power sector, ie, distribution sector, equipment manufacturing, etc, the release said.
Realiance Infra can bid for both IT consultancy and implementation for various SEBs as and when they would invite the bids for the same. These bids are likely to be floated from May 2009.