TCIL forays into core sector consultancy

With growth in fixed line connections stagnating, state-owned Telecommunications Consultants of India Ltd (TCIL) has branched out into civil and architectural consultancy projects, in a bid to increase its turnover and utilise the expertise of its civil engineers. TCIL had, earlier in the year, ventured into road construction.

The company was selected by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Sudan, for undertaking the feasibility study and conceptual design of the Sudan Electronic City, Khartoum.

It has also signed a deal with the Ministry of Post and Technologies for Information and Communication (MPTIC), Algeria, to develop a cyber park at Sidi Abdellah.

"The consultancy work for both projects has been completed and we are awaiting approval from the respective governments to begin infrastructure creation," a senior company official told Business Standard. "We are currently undertaking projects in over 20 countries in Asia and Africa," the official added.

Despite sliding demand for landlines, which has eroded the company's turnover by Rs 95.29 crore to Rs 449.14 cr in 2004-05, company officials believe diversification into high-tech business areas would lead to higher growth and greater revenues.

TCIL has renewed its focus on IT related projects. "In recent months, we have successfully bid for many international projects," said an official.

These include fibre laying project for the Kuwaiti government, expansion of the GSM network in Bhutan, setting up of computer training centres in Afghanistan and consultancy on crime tracking system for Mauritius police.

The company is also working towards consolidating its presence in the domestic civil construction sector.

After having bagged a national highways project in Assam earlier this year, it is now undertaking construction of state highways and roads in rural Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. TCIL's net profit from road construction projects in 2004-05 was Rs 3.64 crore. Ringing Loud

The comapny has also signed a deal with the Ministry of Post and Technologies for Information and Communication (MPTIC), Algeria, to develop a cyber park at Sidi Abdellah

Despite sliding demand for landlines, which has eroded the company's turnover by Rs 95.29 crore to Rs 449.14 cr in 2004-05, company officials believe diversification into high-tech business areas would lead to higher growth and greater revenues