Chennai, Jan 1 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation has cancelled a global tender floated for procuring smart meters, citing the high cost quoted by Adani Energy Solutions Ltd (AESL).

The tenders were floated as four packages in August 2023 for providing the smart meters under the central government's revamped distribution sector scheme.

AESL, a BSE-listed firm was the lowest bidder for package 1 of the tender covering eight districts, including Chennai, and involved installation of over 82 lakh smart meters, a source said.

The tender was cancelled on December 27, 2024, as the cost quoted by AESL was reportedly higher.

A re-tender is likely to be floated. Tenders for three other packages were also cancelled, he said without divulging further details.

The government's move comes in the wake of the controversy surrounding industrialist Gautam Adani, promoter of the Adani Group over allegations of being part of a scheme to pay over USD 250 million (about Rs 2,100 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange of favourable terms for solar power contracts.

US prosecutors had indicted Adani and some others in connection with the matter.

The company has refuted the allegations. PTI JSP VIJ SA SA ROH

Tender cancellation for smart meter procurement on cost grounds prompts re-tendering and follows public controversy over bidder conduct. The state power distributor cancelled a multi-package global tender for smart meters under a central distribution scheme after the lowest bidder for one package, Adani Energy Solutions Ltd, quoted a cost the authority deemed excessive; multiple packages were affected and a re-tender is anticipated. The action occurred against the backdrop of public controversy concerning allegations against the bidder's promoter, which the company has denied, but the cancellation is described as based on procurement cost considerations rather than adjudicative action.