HP bags laptop orders worth Rs 2858 crore from UP government

LUCKNOW, INDIA: The Uttar Pradesh government Wednesday approved the purchase of 15 lakh laptops from HP India at a unit cost of Rs.19,058, an official said.

The council of ministers approved the decision in a cabinet meeting here attended by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav after the recommendations made by the evaluation and technical committee of UP Electronics Corporation were reviewed by it.

A government spokesperson told IANS that the cost per unit will include all taxes and duty cost. The purchase cost of the 15 lakh laptops would total about Rs.2,858 crore.

The state government also authorised the UP Electronics Corporation to issue a letter of intent (LOI) to HP India Sales Private Limited for the purchase of laptops.

The distribution of free laptops to all students passing Class 12 was a major promise of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in the run-up to the state assembly polls.

The party had also promised that free computer tablets would be given to students clearing their Class 10 exams. The process of purchasing computer tablets is underway, an official said.

Earlier, the purchase of laptops was delayed thrice owing to the mammoth scale of the tender.