IT & Communication Initiatives

Objectives and New initiatives taken at IT Department for augmentation of   IT Infrastructure at UJVNL during 2008-09

Objectives:
  
The LAN connectivity at Balance Offices and Power Plants, and their WAN connectivity with Server Node at “UJJWAL” will be established in the similar fashion in the coming time through communication media like BSNL lease lines, Terrestrial Wireless or VSATs. Each location simultaneously will be augmented with secure authentications mechanism for WAN users, to keep hackers & intruders off the WAN. A close monitoring mechanism will be implemented to ensure safe and secure operations of WAN.

The IT Hardware Infrastructure including communication Infrastructure will be required to be augmented to run the Corporate IT applications securely and reliably. This will include :

• Identification of Corporate IT applications required for UJVNL
  
   

• Study of the present IT hardware environment of UJVNL and Identification of IT hardware environment required to run the identified Corporate Applications,
   

• Gap analysis and Design of required IT-hardware environment
   

• Detailed Design of IT Infrastructure - Corporate Intranet, ie, Data Centre Design, Controller Node design, DRS Design, PoP Nodes Design, Access Nodes Design, Communication Links Design, Identification of appropriate WAN Topology - Full or Partial Mesh Topology and WAN design for maximum up-time and reliability
   

• Provisioning of Video-conferencing, and I P telephony over the WAN
   

  Apart from routine work of procurement & maintenance of I T equipment, the following key initiatives have been taken at IT Department during 2008-2009; in line with the above:

  Sl. No.	Objective	Initiatives Taken	Status
  1	IT Connectivety at Yamuna Valley and Uttarkashi area Offices to be established.	The WAN Project for connecting Yamuna Valley Plants and Uttarkashi Offices, awarded to M/s ITI was completed.	Work Completed and Connectivity established over BSNL Lease Lines. Chhibro Power Plant will be connected to UJJWAL over WAN after BSNL installs lease line between these locations
  2	IT Systems at UJVNL to be augmented to make those at par with any modern hydro-power company	A visit was undertaken to understand the IT setup of NHPC at its HO at Faridabad that gave a insight on what could be the IT set-up of  UJVNL	The findings of this visit were studied and it was decided that a Project like approach to augment IT Infrastructure will be yielding results faster and with more predictability. Also a Turnkey Project will be favourable than piece meal work.
  3	Planning for augmenting IT Infrastructure to make IT as Strategic Business Driver.	A System study for Augmenting IT Infrastructure of UJVNL and Pilot Implementation of HR Applications was awarded to M/S NIIT. The System Study has been completed.	The Technical Solution for Establishing Data Centre at UJJWAL has been completed. The Bill of Materials, Phasing Plan and Costing has been done. After  approval of the  Management, Tendering will be done for Establishing Data Centre at UJVNL.
  4	Web based Tender Publishing System in Vogue at UJVNL to be converted to full fledged e-tendering	A Pilot Project was awarded to M/s ITI for processing  two Tenders through e-tendering.	One tender has been processed using e-tendering. The findings are not in favour of going full-fledged e-tendering system.
  5	Internet access to be made effective	The Internet Port with  512 KBPS capacity, has been upgraded to 4 MBPs(1:4) capacity for better accessibility of Internet to remote locations connected over WAN.	The Internet Port has been upgraded and is fully functional
  6	Voice and Data Communication Infrastructure to be made high speed and fault tolerant	M/s BSNL has been provided space on lease in UJJWAL for setting-up Microwave Tower/ BTS, so that Internet Port and WAN Connections can be taken on OFC.	The BSNL has started the  work. The Tower has been erected. The facility is expected to be functional in 6 months time.
  7	Enhancements in e-Payroll Application  for disbursing Salary as per 6th pay commission recommendations	A war-footing initiative was taken-up to disburse Salary of April 2009 paid in May 2009 after the Office Order for Implementation of 6th Pay Commission Recommendations was passed in Mar 20, 2009.	The time was very very short. With great difficulty and highly co-ordinated team work, the salary disbursement has been achieved in the stipulated timeframe.
  8	Implementation of Internet based  File/Letter tracking System) at UJVNL	A joint initiative was taken-up with the help of NIC to implement e-patravali at UJVNL.	The software has been implemented in Director (Finance) Office and is operational.   Due to difference in the pre-developed software of NIC and UJVNL requirements, major changes in the software were made, in line with the requirements of UJVNL. User feed-back is regularly being monitored and changes are being made in software. After implementation and acceptance of this software in Director (Finance) Office, it will be implemented in other offices.
  9	Value Engineering Study by M/S SAP  for Implementation of IT Initiatives in UJVNL	A Study has been awarded to M/s SAP to examine the present State of UJVNL vis-à-vis the peers and to recommend an IT Initiative for UJVNL with tangible benefits.	The Draft Report on the findings has been submitted by SAP is under examination. Subsequently a presentation will be made by SAP explaining the findings. A Final Report will be submitted later. The Findings will be used for Development of IT Infrastructure that will drive business of UJVNL.