Six extensions later, govt cancels sole bid for solar unit, power plant

Centre fails to garner sufficient interest in project nine months after tender, as players shy away citing lack of funding support; govt may start process all over again

Central government has decided to cancel the lone bid that came for setting up a solar panel manufacturing unit along with a solar power plant. The tender for setting up the solar panel plant for an aggregate capacity of 5 Gw linked with solar power projects (for an aggregate capacity of 10 Gw) in India on build- own-operate basis was issued in May 2018.

After close to six extensions owing to lack of bidders, the bid was finalised in November last year. NYSE-listed Azure Power, along with Mumbai based Waaree Energies, was the sole company to submit its for setting up