The Ministry of Railways (MoR) has issued two tenders inviting bids to set up a 1,160 kW grid-connected solar project for Konkan Railways and rooftop solar installations on seven railway stations in the Bangalore Division of South Western Railway.

Konkan Railway Tender

The scope of work for the Konkan Railway tender includes supply, installation, testing, commissioning of an on-grid solar power plant of roughly 1,160 kWp capacity. The project will generate and supply solar energy to railway installations through public-private partnership (PPP) on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) basis for 25 years.

The solar project will power office buildings, railway stations, and other establishments on the Konkan Railway route in Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka. The project must be completed within 300 months from the date of issue of the letter of award (LoA).

The last date to submit bids is November 8, 2021.

Bangalore Division of South Western Railway

The Bangalore Division of South Western Railway has invited bids to install rooftop solar projects in the range of 10 kW and 17 kW on railway stations.

The last date to submit bids is November 2, 2021. The project must be completed within four months from the date of issuing the LoA.

The bidder must have received contractual payments to the tune of at least 150% of the advertised value of the tender in the last three financial years (FYs) and the current FY up to the date of opening of tender.

The bidder must have completed any of the following during the last seven years:

• Three similar works each costing not less than the amount equal to 30% of the advertised value of the tender
• Or two similar works, each costing not less than the amount equal to 40% of the advertised value of the tender
• Or one similar work, each costing not less than the amount equal to 60% of the advertised value of the tender.

Similar works include supplying, installing, testing, and commissioning a solar power generating system of at least 5kW capacity.

According to a recent report published by Climate Trends and Riding Sunbeams, one in four trains of the Indian Railways could be powered by solar power.

Meanwhile, the Railway Energy Management Company Limited (REMCL), a joint venture of the Indian Railways and RITES Limited, issued a notice inviting tender to enroll agencies or consultants to set up solar projects. These consultants will conduct surveys, prepare feasibility and detailed project reports for solar photovoltaic projects in various Indian states.