The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) has issued a call for bids from solar power developers to establish a 450-500 MW solar park along the Bundelkhand Expressway, utilizing a build-own-operate model. The deadline for bid submissions is November 15, 2024, with openings scheduled for November 18. The designated project area spans 1,700 hectares along both sides of the 296.07 km expressway, including slopes and loop areas near major junctions.
Bidders must submit proposals for a minimum capacity of 50 MW, with the project agreement lasting 25 years from the commercial operation date. A document fee of Rs 11,800 ($140) and an earnest money deposit of Rs 500,000 ($5,948) per MW are required. Successful bidders will also need to provide a performance bank guarantee of Rs 1.5 million ($17,843) per MW.
Interested parties are encouraged to visit the project site to assess conditions, access routes, and available utilities for construction, while familiarizing themselves with relevant laws and potential risks. To qualify, bidders must not be blacklisted by any government agency or found guilty of serious fraudulent practices, and they must utilise commercially established technologies to mitigate risks and ensure timely project completion. Additionally, bidders must demonstrate a net worth of at least Rs 10 million ($118,949) per MW of contracted capacity and an average annual turnover of at least Rs 15 million ($178,428) per MW over the last three financial years. Previously, UPEIDA also invited bids for establishing public charging stations along the state’s expressways through a public-private partnership.
