GVK to commence hydro electric project in J&k this year

NEW DELHI - - GVK Power and Infrastructure would commence work on its 690 MW hydro-electric power project at Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir by December, 2011, a company official has said.

"By December, this year, we will be able to start work on the Ratle hydro project at Kishtwar district in J&K," Chief Finance Officer, Isaac George, told PTI.

The 690 MW power plant is likely to be commissioned in the year 2017. Situated on the river Chenab, it will provide 16 per cent of its output to the state of Jammu and Kashmir free of charge.

At present, the company is also engaged in the construction of two hydro-electric power projects of 330 MW and 370 MW respectively in Uttarakhand.

Work is in progress on the 330 MW Alaknanda hydro project in Uttarakhand, with the plant expected to commence operations in 2012.

Another 370 MW Goriganga power plant being developed in Pittorgarh, Uttarkhand, is also expected to be commissioned by 2012.

Since this will be a merchant power plant, it will allow GVK to sell electricity from this plant in the open market.

Besides, hydro, the company is also executing a 540 MW thermal power project in Punjab and a 235 MW gas-based power project in Andhra Pradesh.

The cumulative capacity of these projects under construction is over 5,000 MW.

Meanwhile, GVK Transportation, a subsidiary of GVK Power and Infrastructure recently bagged a Rs 2,815 crore road project from National Highways Authority of India NHAI for four--laning of long road in Madhya Pradesh.

The company has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with the government of Indonesia for developing airports at Bali and Jakarta. It is currently conducting feasibility studies for the same.