But HPGC officials said the project had a penalty clause for late completion and even BHEL, which executed the Panipat thermal plant, had to pay a penalty of Rs 29 crore in 2004-05 for late completion.

They, however, said oil synchronisation of the plant was achieved in a record time, but stabilisation is a project-specific process and a lot of improbables can crop up and delay the commissioning of the project.

Maintaining that units of similar ratings take a minimum of 40-45 months, Reliance has said the trial operations of the first unit (which was to start generation of 300 MW electricity by November 19 last year) will begin in March and commercial operations will start in the same month while the second unit (which was to start generation of 300 MW by February 15) will be operational in April.