India's National Thermal Power Corporation has been awarded the prestigious IPMA International Project Management Award for its Simhadri Thermal Power Project. The award was announced by IPMA President Adesh Jain at a gala ceremony in New Delhi Tuesday evening.

The award, which is based on the IPMA project excellence model, recognizes excellence in project management. While recognizing the finalists for 2005, IPMA Award Management Board Chairman Otto Zieglmeier announced that the 2005 award drew a record number of entrants from Europe and Asia.

Nine finalists were honored at the award ceremony from which four were selected as potential winners:

• HAL-ARDC-IJT, Aircraft Research, India
• Shandong Highway Information System, CVIC Software, China
• Simhadri Thermal Power Project, NTPC Ltd., India
• Power Supply Bangkok Subway, Siemens, Germany

The selection process is quite rigorous, involving a 35-page application and a site visit by a team of International Award Assessors. The recommendation of the International Award Assessors is then submitted to an International Jury for selection and decision.

Members of the Simhadri Thermal Power Project team were on hand Tuesday evening to receive the award when the sealed envelope was opened by IPMA President Adesh Jain. Friends and supporters immediately swarmed onto the stage to congratulate the winners.