Experts debate how the franchise model in power distribution and Open Access will help or hamper the financial condition of state distribution companies.Excerpts from the 2nd Power Today Round Table.December’s Rs 500 crore bailout package announced by the Delhi Government to the Reliance owned discoms in that state has proved that it won’t just be the publicly owned ones that face financial crisis.

The Union government has invited bids worth Rs 20,000 crore,to widen 2,000 km of highways, opening up a big opportunity for companies such as L&T, GMR,Reliance Infrastructure and Gammon.This has helped the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) inch closer to its target.

This is the penultimate budget of the government before elections. The last budget usually is not one where big ticket reforms can be kicked in. Political com­pulsions make those budgets populist

The brand new clause that permits high-volume users to purchase power under OA will both impact and benefit the dismally ailing distribution companies. Our experts variously believe that the demand for power may go up,

If the nascent segment of rural roads must attract private participation to raise the quality bar,it needs to gain the confidence of the companies by doing its tendering processes right and offering government clearances upfront.Mahesh M Hiremath, COO, Karnataka Rural Roads Development Agency, one of the better state performers having upgraded nearly 15,000 km of rural roads to all-weather with an expenditure of Rs 3,371 crore under PMGSY.

Mumbai, December 5, 2011 – The invitation for Mumbai Trans Harbour Link qualification bids has drawn huge response from Indian and International players. Within less than a fortnight of the invitation the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA),

Rural roads constituted over 84 per cent (2.65 million) of Indian Roads Network in 2010-11, and were constructed at the rate of 124 km per day. Around 80,195 km of rural roads were completed till March this year.

Over the last four years there has been increased private sector par­ticipation in infrast­ructure via Public Private Partnerships (PPP), and as an objective but active participant in docu­menting this growth,

Reliance Infrastructure has commissioned a new 400-kV transmission line in Gujarat, making this the company's fifth functional line.