WBSEDCL invites bids to set up 245 EV charging and battery swapping stations

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) has invited bids for the supply, installation, operation, and management of electric vehicle (EV) charging and battery-swapping stations across the state. The tender aims to establish 245 stations at key locations, including Kolkata and major national and state highways, under a revenue-sharing model.

According to the tender, the government will provide land for the project, while selected bidders will invest in installation and operations. Of the 245 proposed sites, 160 are on WBSEDCL-owned land, 42 on West Bengal State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (WBSETCL) land, 32 at Pathasathi sites under the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation Limited (WBTDCL), and 11 on other government-owned plots. WBSEDCL will supply electricity to the stations, while the private developers will build and manage both fast and slow charging infrastructure.

The tender specifies that the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) ranges from Rs 36,500 for one location to Rs 10 lakh for more than 50 locations. Bidders are required to have a minimum average annual turnover of Rs 1 crore for up to five locations, with higher requirements for larger allocations.

Successful bidders must complete installation and commissioning within six months of receiving the Notice of Award. The tender forms part of the fourth phase of WBSEDCL’s EV infrastructure rollout, reinforcing its role as the state nodal agency for EV charging development.

The initiative supports the West Bengal Electric Vehicle Policy 2021, which targets 10 lakh EVs on the state’s roads by 2030. It complements earlier tenders issued under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) for EV charging and battery-swapping stations at WBSEDCL, WBSETCL, and Pathasathi sites. The program is also supported by promotional EV tariffs approved by the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission.