The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in Maharashtra has issued an invitation for bids to establish 22 public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across its jurisdiction. The project, following a build, own, and operate model, will require the successful bidder to manage the operation and maintenance for a period of eight years.

Bidders are requested to submit their proposals online by September 14, 2023, with the bid opening scheduled for September 18. The estimated cost of the project stands at Rs 151.8 million.

To participate, bidders must provide an earnest money deposit of Rs 759,000 . The successful bidder will also be required to furnish a security deposit of Rs 7.59 million  in the form of a bank guarantee before the agreement's execution.

The project is expected to be completed within six months from the notice to proceed. Bidding firms must have been in existence for at least three financial years and possess experience in executing EV charging station projects. They should have completed at least one project with a minimum of 18 public EV charging stations or meet specific criteria for multiple projects over the last three years.

Financial requirements include a project of similar nature worth Rs 121.4 million or equivalent criteria for multiple projects during the last three years. Bidders must also demonstrate an average annual turnover of at least Rs 45.5 million and a positive net worth as of the preceding financial year's last day.

The selected bidder will be responsible for designing, engineering, and testing the public EV charging station, including the power infrastructure. All proposed chargers must receive approval from either the Automotive Research Association of India or the International Centre for Automotive Technology.

This initiative reflects the commitment of Maharashtra's municipal bodies to promote sustainable transportation by expanding the EV charging infrastructure, contributing to the state's green mobility goals.