Reliance Infra keen on expanding power distribution biz

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) company Reliance Infrastructure today said it will bid for more power distribution business in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states, claiming it helped the Delhi government save Rs 19,000 crore through improvement in power supply.

"We are geared up to bid for distribution work in 20 cities including nine in Uttar Pradesh, five in Maharashtra and four in Bihar as and when bids are invited," Reliance Infra Chief Executive Officer Lalit Jalan told PTI.

There are indications that these states would open up power distribution to the private sector, Jalan said, adding, "with our proven credentials in the sector, we are hopeful to be front-runners in the race."

He further said, "In case of winning awards, it will be our endeavour to reform the sector and reduce the aggregate technical and commercial (AT & C) losses substantially. In Delhi we helped the state government to bring down losses to 20 per cent from 55 per cent in 2002."

The operations in Delhi, he said, helped the state government save Rs 19,000 crore over the past seven years.

Reliance Infra, he claimed, is the largest private sector enterprise among power utilities involved in generating, transmitting, distributing and trading electricity and constructing power plants as engineering procurement construction partners.