State-run Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL) launched the biggest ever tender worth about Rs 5,500 crore to procure as many as 5,580 electric buses including 130 double deckers.
CESL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), announced the floating of a request for proposals for the biggest ever demand for electric buses and it is said the
tender value is estimated to be Rs 5,500 crore. CESL focuses to enhance its support to state governments in achieving their electric mobility targets and further build an infrastructure for electric mobility in the country.
The cities to be covered under this "Grand Challenge" are Bangalore, Delhi, Surat, Hyderabad, and Kolkata in the first phase.
"This Grand Challenge Tender represents efforts by so many people - STUs, OEMs, financiers, Niti Aayog, DHI and of course my colleagues. This is the biggest ever scheme in the world, and is based on an innovative, asset-light model that makes it possible for STUs to deploy affordably and at scale," Mahua Acharya, MD & CEO, CESL said.
"Standardizing tendering conditions in diverse cities is a big step towards the transformation of public transport in India. Participation in the Grand Challenge is a commendable effort from STUs, who I am sure will stand to gain from economies of scale through the aggregation of demand by CESL," Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog said.
