Staff Reporter
Panaji/Margao
To bolster Goa’s public transport, Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to select an operator for the procurement, operation, and maintenance of 50 air-conditioned nine-metre-long electric buses under a gross cost contract (GCC) model.
KTCL has been grappling with a substantial shortfall in its bus fleet, which has impacted services across various routes. To mitigate this, the corporation had previously contracted Olectra Greentech Limited for 150 electric buses. As of now, 87 buses have been delivered, with the remaining 63 expected by December 2025.
The new tender for 50 additional electric buses aims to further reduce the shortage and enhance service coverage.
These electric buses will operate across cities and towns in Goa.
These include Panaji, Canacona, Calangute, Baga, Vasco, Valpoi, Pernem, Ponda, Sanvordem, Kalay, Mapusa, Margao, and Betul.
Additionally, services will extend to some areas/cities in Karnataka and Maharashtra – Karwar, Gokarn, Sawantwadi, Vengurla, Malwan, Hubballi, Belagavi, and Dharwad.
The selected operator will be responsible for manufacturing or supplying the buses, developing the required charging and electrical infrastructure (including transformers and upstream systems), and maintaining the fleet for a contract period of 12 years.
Each bus is expected to operate at least 60,000 kilometres annually, with possible operation up to 80,000 km depending on requirements.
KTCL will bear the cost of electricity for charging the buses, which will be adjusted in the operator’s monthly bills. However, the operator will bear the cost of all other electricity consumption and must provide separate meters for charging and other utilities.
At the end of the contract, all civil and electrical infrastructure developed will become the property of KTCL.
A key feature of the selection process is a mandatory trial run. Bidders must demonstrate that their electric bus model can operate at least 180 km with 80 per cent state-of-charge and air-conditioning. The trial will include stops, load tests, and temperature control, and will be conducted on KTCL-specified routes.
The RFP was published on April 8, with the deadline for submission of technical bids being April 30. A pre-bid meeting will be held on April 21 and technical bids will be opened on May 2.
Trial runs are scheduled between May 3 and May 10.
Meanwhile, KTCL has issued a tender for collecting parking fees at Margao and Panaji bus stands.
Confirming the development, Navelim MLA and KTC chairman Ulhas Tuenkar said the corporation has published a tender notice for collecting parking fees at Margao and Panaji bus terminals.
He stated the notice is only covering existing parking lots which are being used by commuters to park their vehicles at both the bus stands.
Replying to a query, he said at the moment there is no proposal for the expansion of parking space and the tender will be limited only to existing lots.
