Telangana electricity board asks L&T metro rail to cough up Rs 1,02,56,000 as arrears

Hyderabad: The Telanagana Electricity Board has demanded that L&T Metro Rail pay Rs 1,02,56,000 as arrears on electricity charges for the year 2016.

A notice was sent to L&T Metro Rail by the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TSSPDCL) on May 8.

In its reply, L&T Metro Rail has pointed out that the Telangana State Electricity Regulatory Commission had agreed to supply power to units of the metro rail, including trains, depots and stations, at Rs 7 per unit; but the TSSPDCL bill indicates that Rs 7.07 has been charged for each unit. A fixed tariff of Rs 7 per unit was announced in an order issued by the commission on April 16, 2016, but it seems to have been ignored by the board. L&T Metro Rail officials have asked the government to intervene.

According to sources at L&T Metro Rail, the electricity board is supposed to accommodate the metro rail system in a special category, along with airports, bus stations and railway stations, and hence offer it benefits.

Though the metro rail is not commercially operational yet, trial runs, system analysis and station-level tracking are being carried out. L&T Metro Rail has agreed to have a metered electrical connection on the condition that it be offered a benefit in the tariff rate.