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Bharti tops bidders for fourth cell licence

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, July 11

BHARTI Cellular Ltd leads the contenders for fourth cellular licences, with a Rs 722.48-crore bid for 11 circles in the first stage of bidding, which opened on Wednesday.

The company has put in the highest bids for nine circles, including Mumbai (Rs 203.65 crore), Gujarat (Rs 102.56 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 77.85 crore) and Kolkata (Rs 77.85 crore). It also leads in Kerala (Rs 40.53 crore), Uttar Pradesh (West) (Rs 30.54 cr ore), Uttar Pradesh (East) (Rs 30.54 crore), Haryana (Rs 21.45 crore) and Madhya Pradesh (Rs 17.45 crore).

The second highest bidder in all these circles has put in bids nearly three times lesser than Bharti's.

Reliance, which had shown interest in as many as 15 circles through its group company, Reliable Internet Services Ltd, put in a total bid of Rs 515 crore but managed to lead in only one circle -- Delhi (Rs 90 crore). It was the second highest in Mumbai ( Rs 90 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 50 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 35 crore), Kolkata (Rs 25 crore), Kerala (Rs 20 crore) and Haryana (Rs 10 crore).

Barakhamba Sales & Services Ltd, a Hutchison-Essar joint venture company, leads in four service areas of Karnataka (Rs 150.40 crore), Chennai (Rs 117.50 crore), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 103 crore) and Maharashtra (Rs 103 crore). It entered a total bid of Rs 47 3.9 crore.

Escorts Telecommunications Ltd, which has bid for eight circles, put in a total bid of Rs 292.1 crore. It includes Rs 71 crore for Punjab, Rs 61 crore for Delhi, Rs 51 crore for Gujarat, Rs 51 crore for Karnataka, Rs 21 crore for Tamil Nadu, Rs 18 crore for Rajasthan, Rs 18 crore for Uttar Pradesh (East) and Rs 1.10 crore for Himachal Pradesh.

Although the bids were low, it leads in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.

BPL-Batata put in a total bid of Rs 121.8 crore for three circles. It includes Delhi (Rs 80.5 crore), Chennai (Rs 20.5 crore) and Karnataka (Rs 20.80 crore).

Indmobile Ltd -- which bid for only one circle, Punjab, -- leads there at Rs 105 crore.

The second stage financial bids are now open. The highest bid amounts in the first stage will be the reserve price for the second stage, the last date for submission for which is July 16. The third and final stage financial bids has been scheduled for Ju ly 19.

The licences are expected to be signed by the end of August. The submission of financial and performance bank guarantees by successful bidders has to be done by August 31, and licence agreements will be signed by the date specified in the letters of inte nt.