Even as the high-level energy task force will decide the fate of the two thermal power projects in Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh with a total capacity of 3,300 Megawatt, there is a possibility of the state government inviting fresh bids.
In the revised financial bids, Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Power had emerged as the lowest tariff bidder last month vis-à-vis other power majors such as Lanco Infratech and National Thermal Power Corporation.
Official sources said the government might go for re-bidding to bring down the quoted tariff, which is observed to be on the higher side. The ETF will meet on July 19 to take a final view.
Meanwhile, the evaluation committee today analysed financial and legal issues related to the bids.
The ETF is headed by the chief secretary and is the apex body to decide the fate of the project and give its recommendation to the state Cabinet.
The proposed projects have already seen bid for twice. The first lowest bid of Lanco Infratech was also found too high.
Re-bidding is a time consuming and the government might ask the companies to revise their tariffs to save time.
In the revised financial bids, Reliance had pipped Lanco, National Thermal Power Corporation, Jindal Steel and Power Limited and Calcutta Electric Supply Company to emerge as the lowest bidder.
The two plants are at Bara and Karchchna, respectively. Reliance had quoted the lowest tariff of Rs 2.64 and Rs 2.60 per unit for the 1,980-Mw Bara and 1,320-Mw Karchchna, respectively, a paisa lower than what Lanco had quoted.
The location of the plants is not at the coal pit-head and the mineral would be ferried from Singrauli, which is about 600 km from the project site.
The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd will acquire about 2,100 acres of barren tract in Bara and 990 acres in Karchchana for these projects.
The state government is trying to ramp up the total generation capacity in the state by 10,000 Mw in the current 11 th Five-Year Plan in collaboration with NTPC, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited and the private sector.