NTPC Green Energy Limited, a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has invited bids for the procurement of 11 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) for its Green Hydrogen Mobility Project in Kandla, Gujarat, PSU Connect reported.
The tender, floated on April 26, 2026, is part of India’s broader push to decarbonise public transport and demonstrate hydrogen-powered mobility at scale. Bids must be submitted on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal by May 26, 2026, at 3:00 PM, with the techno-commercial bid opening scheduled for the same day.
The contract covers the supply of the 11 buses along with a 10-year comprehensive maintenance agreement to be counted from the commercial operation date. The first bus must be delivered within five months of the award, with the remaining units to follow within two months of that. A performance guarantee equivalent to 5 per cent of the total contract value is required, along with an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of Rs 1 crore.
The tender is restricted to Class-I and Class-II local suppliers under the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, with non-local suppliers’ bids liable to be rejected outright and purchase preference extended to Class-I local suppliers. Micro and Small Enterprises holding valid Udyam registration are eligible for applicable benefits and exemptions on the EMD.
To qualify technically, bidders must be hydrogen fuel cell bus manufacturers or their authorised representatives, and must demonstrate manufacturing, testing, and certification capability under Indian Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), or equivalent international certification backed by road trials. On the financial side, bidders must demonstrate a minimum average annual turnover of Rs 26 crore over the past three years, with net worth at least equal to their paid-up share capital.
The Kandla project is positioned as a real-world pilot for hydrogen-powered public transport under India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, with NTPC Green Energy playing a central role in developing end-to-end hydrogen value chains. The strict domestic manufacturing requirements embedded in the tender are intended to encourage indigenous production of hydrogen vehicles and related technology.
