Thiruvananthapuram: The Corporation is considering KSEB as an alternative to SIDCO for the LED project, as the agreement with SIDCO has got delayed. Mayor V.K. Prasanth said, “We are holding talks with higher officials at KSEB to see if they can implement the project. But the Corporation has not taken any decision. If the SIDCO agreement takes place even now, we will go ahead with it. The choice of KSEB is subject to the council’s approval. The Corporation had sent a selection notice to SIDCO last month.
Following this, the company had sent a note seeking a clarification regarding the criteria to select a contractor, the mayor said. Sources in the Corporation said that the state government had expressed doubts about SIDCO’s technical expertise in taking up the project, as it had no previous experience with LED lighting. A committee with representatives from government agencies like KSEB and Electrical Inspectorate is now evaluating the project. This technical committee was formed to ensure that all aspects were thoroughly examined, according to an official at SIDCO.
“The project costs many crores and we need to be sure at every step,” the official said. If the project works out, the Corporation will have to pay SIDCO Rs 1.25 crores as monthly maintenance charges for 10 years". SIDCO is not aware about the state government expressing doubts about its expertise, according to the company’s newly appointed MD Jayakumar K B. “We are waiting for statutory authorities to approve the project schedule. Only after that can we sign the agreement and invite e-tenders,” he said.
