Anil Ambani-led telecom services provider Reliance Communications (RCom) is understood to have bagged a project worth Rs 300 crore from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for managing the network and subscriber numbers.
According to company officials, RCom has won the number repository and IT infrastructure contract for Aadhaar as part of a consortium led by HCL Infosystems. The total value of the contract (to be) carried out by RCom is expected to be in the range of Rs 200 crore - Rs 300 crore, the sources added.
Sources also said that HCL Infosystems-led consortium has emerged as the lowest bidder for the UIDAI’s managed service provider (MSP) contract, which involves building of the Central ID Data Repository (CIDR). The contract is estimated to be about Rs 2,200 crore.
However, both RCom and HCL Infosystems are tight-lipped about the development.
When contacted, HCL Infosystems said in a statement, “We are a shortlisted candidate for the contract, but as of now we have not received any official communication from the authority (UIDAI) in this matter.” A spokesperson of RCom said the company is aware that their consortium is the lowest bidder. “But we are yet to hear from the UIDAI.”
| FACT BOX |
| * HCL Infosystems-led consortium is the lowest bidder for the UIDAI's managed service provider contract |
| * It involves building of the Central ID Data Repository |
| * The contract size is estimated to be about Rs 2,200 crore |
| * RCom has won number repository and IT infrastructure contract |
| * This is a part of the consortium led by HCL Infosystems |
| * Contract (to be) carried out by RCom is expected in the range of Rs 200 - Rs 300 crore |
| * UIDAI has the mandate to enroll 200 mn by this month-end |
Officials from UIDAI could not be reached for their comments.
Unique identification project was initially conceived by the Planning Commission, as an initiative that would provide unique identification number or Aadhar number to each resident across the country and would be used primarily as the basis for efficient delivery of welfare services.
It would also act as a tool for effective monitoring of various programmes and schemes of the government. The UIDAI has the mandate to enroll 200 million people by this month end.
The shares of RCom closed at Rs 96.65, up 1.58 per cent at the Bombay Stock Exchange, while the share price of HCL Infosystem went up marginally by 0.51 per cent to close at Rs 48.85 on the BSE on Monday.
