Bhubaneswar may soon see double-decker electric buses!!
CRUT invites tender to procure the buses under Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model. To start with, the double decker EV buses will run in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri circuit.
Arpit Pattnaik
The Odisha government is preparing to introduce double-decker electric buses in Bhubaneswar soon. The Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has already invited tenders from private organizations for this initiative.
According to sources, CRUT plans to initially introduce five double-decker electric buses for the Khordha, Puri, and Cuttack districts. A 10-year contract will be signed with a private organization for the supply, operation, maintenance of the buses, and employment of workers for this purpose. If necessary, the contract period may be extended by an additional two years.
CRUT aims to utilize green energy for its operations to promote clean and environmentally friendly shared mobility under a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model by appointing a fleet operator.
The notification issued by CRUT states, “This Request for Proposal (RFP) is published to invite proposals for the manufacture and supply of five (5) fully built, air-conditioned double-decker electric buses with chargers, along with comprehensive maintenance for a period of ten (10) years, with a possible extension of two (2) years. The authority intends to deploy these buses for tourism purposes within the state and on other routes determined by the authority.”
“The service area may change according to notifications related to the expansion of CRUT operations as applicable. The authority intends to select the bus operator for awarding the contract through an open competitive bidding process, following the outlined procedures,” it further states.
“The agreement period for the buses shall be ten (10) years from the Commercial Operations Date (COD). The authority reserves the right to extend the agreement for an additional two (2) years at its sole discretion, based on performance and the condition of the buses, in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the Bus Operator Agreement. The selected bus operator is expected to procure the fully built buses from established manufacturers as per the specified requirements. Ownership of the procured buses will remain with the operator throughout the contract period, and all contracted buses will be registered in the operator's name,” it concludes.
