Northeast Frontier Railway Invites Bids For 1 MW Solar Project At New Jalpaiguri Under RESCO Model

Katihar Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway has issued an e-tender for setting up a 1 MWp ground-mounted grid-connected solar power project at the Dy.CMM/NJP Store Depot campus in New Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. The tender, numbered 53_2025, marks a step towards increasing the use of renewable energy within Indian Railways’ infrastructure. The project will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership model, using the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) framework on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer basis.

The total advertised value of the project is ₹59,572,422. Under this model, the selected solar power developer will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of the project. This includes design and engineering, procurement of equipment, arranging finance, erection, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar PV system. The scope also covers the installation of all required high-tension and low-tension distribution lines to ensure proper grid connectivity. After commissioning, the developer will handle the operation and maintenance of the solar plant for a long duration of 25 years, ensuring continuous and reliable power generation.

The tender is being invited under a two-packet system by DRM-Electrical (GEN) on behalf of the President of India. The bidding timeline has been clearly outlined. The tender document was uploaded on December 13, 2025, while the e-bidding process will open on December 22, 2025. Interested bidders must submit their bids by January 5, 2026, before 3:00 PM. Once awarded, the selected contractor will be required to complete the project within 240 days from the date of the contract award.

To participate in the bidding process, firms are required to submit an earnest money deposit of ₹1,068,000. This refundable amount serves as a bid security and reflects the seriousness of the bidder. The bid must remain valid for a period of 180 days from the tender closing date. In addition, the successful bidder will have to furnish a performance bank guarantee after award of the contract, as per the detailed conditions mentioned in the tender documents. This performance security will ensure proper execution and long-term performance of the project.

The tender also specifies strict eligibility conditions. Bidders must have an average annual turnover of at least ₹150 lakh during the last three financial years. They must also have prior experience in installing grid-connected solar power projects of at least 200 kW capacity, or a cumulative experience of 1,000 kW. This project reflects the railway’s growing focus on clean energy adoption and long-term sustainability through private sector participation.