NTPC launched a vendors' enlistment process at all power stations, including Kahalgaon, to centralise works done through contractors and reduce inventory cost on Wednesday.

Under the scheme, vendors from all over the country would be able to take part in the tendering process, resulting in better competition and quality of contracts and material. It would also help NTPC expand its vendor base and bring uniformity in procurement process at all its plants.

Inaugurating the new vendor enlistment process, the newly appointed general manager of Kahalgaon project, Nagendra Narayan Mishra, said on Wednesday: "As a result of this all India vendors' enlistment process, NTPC would be benefited immensely owing to wider participation of vendors and contractors in all tenders of NTPC power stations."

He also launched a website www.vendor.ntpc.co.in.

According to him, every year power plants procure material or items around Rs 2,000 crore and award contracts at an estimated Rs 1,600 crore for operational and maintenance requirements.

He said: "Until now, for operational requirement, each plant used to procure material by issuing tenders in the surrounding area of the plant and to a known source. In that process, only vendors, where the plant is located, used to take part in the tender process thereby, resulting in limited participation."

Sources said sometimes the cost of procurement increased, giving rise to long procurement time. All the factors put together result in increased inventory cost of the power plants.