Northern Railway Invites Tender For 1 MW Solar O&M At Katra Station

The Jammu Division of the Electrical Department under Northern Railway has invited an open tender for the annual comprehensive operation and maintenance of a 1 MWp solar power plant located at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station. The project covers solar installations across multiple areas of the station, including service buildings and platform shelters, and aims to ensure efficient functioning of the solar infrastructure over a contract period of 24 months. The total estimated value of the tender stands at Rs. 16.88 lakh.

The scope of work has been divided into two separate schedules. Schedule A focuses on the complete operation and maintenance of the 1 MWp solar plant. This includes deployment of manpower and replacement of spare parts, except for specific items listed under Schedule B. The estimated value for this portion is ₹6.60 lakh. Schedule B includes the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of key components such as inverters and related equipment. It specifically mentions three 50 kW inverters of Delta make or equivalent, along with inverter cards and 15 days of SCADA engineer services for system rectification. This portion carries a higher value of ₹10.28 lakh.

As per the tender schedule, the bidding process will begin on April 13, 2026, and will close on April 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM. Interested bidders are required to submit an Earnest Money Deposit of ₹33,800, while there is no cost for the tender document. The validity of the submitted bids will remain for 60 days. In case a bank guarantee is submitted as bid security, it must be issued by a scheduled commercial bank in India and remain valid for at least 90 days beyond the bid validity period.

The tender follows a single packet system, and all submissions must be made online through the IREPS portal. Manual submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances. Bidders are required to meet certain eligibility criteria, including possession of a valid electrical contractor license issued by a competent government authority. They must also submit financial documents such as PAN and GST registration certificates.

In line with the government’s Make in India initiative, bidders are also required to declare the percentage of local content in their offerings. The tender does not allow participation from joint ventures or consortiums, as this provision applies only to projects exceeding Rs. 10 crore. The Railway Administration has also stated that it reserves the right to terminate the contract at any stage without prior notice and has advised bidders to inspect the project site before submitting their proposals.