Infosys set to get K'taka contract on T&D losses

The Rs 380-crore tender is part of the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme of the central govt.

Infosys Technologies, India’s second largest software services company, is close to winning a Rs 380-crore contract from the Karnataka government’s electricity supply companies, aimed at stemming transmission and distribution losses.

The contract is being awarded as part of the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (APDRP) initiated by the central government.

Industry sources indicate that Infosys has emerged as the lowest from among 11 bidders, including Wipro, TCS and KLG Systems. A company spokesperson declined to comment.

Indian software service vendors are all vying for a piece of the Rs 10,000-crore of contracts under the APDRP, more so as this is a programme which could be expanded later. TCS and HCL, Infosys' big rivals, have won similar contracts on addressing T&D losses in other states.

Infosys has been stepping up its India presence during the past 18 months, setting up a separate India business unit. It has so far bagged three major projects in the government sector. Earlier, the company had won a project to set up and manage a central processing centre for the income tax department and one from the ministry of commerce to develop an eBiz portal to help provide one-stop services to industry.

The company has also bagged a pilot project to roll out an Integrated Coach Management System for the Indian Railways. Though the initial (pilot) project cost is small, its success will determine the schedule on when the railways will go for floating the final tender for the project, estimated to be Rs 210 crore.