The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) has announced that bids are being invited to establish and operate 58 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in various locations including Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Mathura, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Gorakhpur district areas. The charging stations will be set up at all the 33/11 kV substations and DISCOMs in these regions. It has been stated that the deadline for submitting the bids online is July 24, 2023, and the opening of the bids will also take place on the same date. Interested bidders will need to provide an earnest money deposit of Rs 1 lakh for charging stations located in Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida). For charging stations in Ghaziabad, Mathura, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur, the earnest money deposit required is Rs 75,000. Once selected, the winning bidder must furnish an amount equal to 10% of the estimated project cost as performance security. The chosen bidder will be awarded a ten-year contract with a three-year lock-in period after the acceptance of the award notification. As part of their responsibilities, the operator will need to install DC-type EV chargers for four-wheelers and AC-type (up to 3 kW) chargers for two-wheelers at the designated locations. Additionally, the operator will be responsible for arranging electricity connections in compliance with the regulations set by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) to ensure the smooth operation of the charging stations. Moreover, the agency will be permitted, as per UPERC regulations, to procure power from open access and will be required to pay the relevant charges for such procurement. To be eligible for participation, bidders must have prior experience in executing at least three similar assignments within the last five years. Also read: Michelin Chennai Factory to be powered with RE PCBL announces a Greenfield, a Brownfield project in India