KEC Intl transforms into infra company

KEC International, which has acquired two companies recently, is transforming into an infrastructure company from an exclusive tower maker for power transmission.

The RPG Group company, which grew close to Rs 4,000 crore in 2009-10 from about Rs 500 crore in 2001-02, has big plans in power transmission, substations, railways infrastructure and rural electrification and telecom segments, besides its core competency area of engineering, procurement and construction of transmission towers, according to Managing Director Ramesh Chandak.

“Already about 30 per cent of our revenues constitute businesses other than transmission tower business. Progressively, this share will increase,” he said.

KEC yesterday announced the acquisition of Jay Railway Signaling Private Ltd, a railways signalling automation systems and technology company, for nearly Rs 14 crore. The acquisition will help KEC to become a total solutions provider in creating railway infrastructure, which involves three major components — civil infrastructure and track works, railway electrification, and signaling works.

KEC has so far electrified about 5,000 kilometres of railway tracks. In March, the company had bagged a Rs 130-crore order from Indian Railways for electrification. With this acquisition, KEC hopes to add about Rs 450 crore to its order book in the near future from the railway segment, according to him.