To modernize its fleet sustainably, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has issued a tender to procure 300 low floor electric buses. Suppliers of the buses would be expected to provide them on a build, own, operate, and transfer basis (BOOT). The scope of work under the tender would include supplying, operating, and maintaining these electric buses.

Bidders are expected to quote the rates for supplying electric buses with the demand incentives that are available under the ‘Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India Phase II) program.

The selected supplier and operator will also have to develop the charging infrastructure, including electric transformers, connections, and allied civil infrastructure at the depots under the OPEX model. Moreover, DTC has mandated that the bids should come from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or bus operators. Bidders would have to submit bid security or earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹60 million ($845,000) to participate in the tender.

The last date for the submission of bids for this tender is November 13, 2019.

According to the tender documents, DTC aims to increase its total fleet of buses to 5,500. It has already issued tenders to procure 1,000 electric buses in the recent past.

Recently, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation also issued two tenders to procure 100 air-conditioned electric buses for its north and east clusters. The buses are expected to be deployed for providing last-mile connectivity to Delhi Metro passengers.

In March 2019, the transport department of Delhi had issued a tender for a total of 385 electric buses for various clusters in the region.

To promote clean mobility in public transportation, the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) under the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises, recently granted the approval for 5,595 electric buses to be deployed in 64 cities under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) program.

In June 2019, the Department of Heavy Industry had invited expressions of interest from state transport departments for the deployment of 5,000 electric buses under the FAME II program. The deployment of electric buses will be on an operational cost model basis.