15 power firms keen on Rajpura project
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9
As many as 15 firms have shown interest in the 1,320 MW Rajpura thermal plant project after an appeal by its earlier lone bidder Lanco calling for acceptance of its negotiated bid by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) was rejected by the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.

The vehicle formed by the PSEB for this purpose - Nabha Power Limited, had earlier extended the time period of the bid after Lanco approached the Appellate Tribunal protesting the decision to go in for a rebid. Earlier the Punjab government had gone in for negotiations with Lanco and approached the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) to accept a new bid negotiated with Lanco. However, the commission asked the board to go in for a rebid.

At a proposal bidder’s conference held here today as many as 15 firms, including Adani Power, Lanco Infratech, Reliance Energy, Welspun Urja India, DS Construction, NTPC, Dalmia Cement, Essar Power, Larsen and Toubro, Gammon India, JSW Energy, OPG Power, India Bulls, AMTech Group, e-Gateway India, participated.

Nabha Power officials, while answering queries of the representatives of the firms, said the plant is to be built on build, own and operate basis through tariff-based competitive bidding process as per the guidelines of the Power Ministry. About 1,078 acres of land required for the plant has already been acquired and the Union government had approved long-term coal linkage. The last date of bidding for the project is October 9.