CHENNAI: In a first, the Tamil Nadu Mobility and Logistics Corporation Limited has invited bids to hire light motor vehicles (LMVs) on a gross cost contract basis for use by State government departments, public sector undertakings and statutory bodies across Tamil Nadu.
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This novel move comes after the successful GCC model-based electric bus procurement by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
The tenders, floated on behalf of 27 government entities, propose hiring 1,862 vehicles for three years. This includes 1,312 Jeep category vehicles, mainly for field operations, and 550 LMVs for general official use. Vehicles will be deployed on demand across all 38 districts, and the actual requirement may vary during implementation.
Of the 1,312 Jeep category vehicles, proposed to be Bolero Neo Plus or equivalent models with a seating capacity of seven plus one, Tangedco accounts for the bulk with 1,135 vehicles, followed by TN Civil Supplies Corporation with 49 and TN Fibernet Corporation. In all, 25 entities will get a vehicle through the bid.
The second tender covers 550 LMVs, including 16 premium SUVs such as Innova Crysta or equivalent, 47 SUV or MUV category vehicles such as XUV 700 or Hyundai Creta or equivalent, and 487 sedan-type vehicles such as Honda City, Etios or Swift Dzire or equivalent. These vehicles should be no more than four years old and white or grey in colour.
The department-wise allocation of these 550 vehicles shows TWAD Board seeking 234, the Tangedco 181 vehicles and TWAD Board 234. Smaller numbers have been proposed for five other boards, departments and a few government medical colleges.
Under the gross cost contract, operators will bear all operating expenses, including fuel, driver wages, maintenance, insurance and statutory compliance. User departments will pay only the agreed hire charges, while parking and toll charges will be reimbursed based on verifiable records.
The tender also mandates strict safety and monitoring norms. Vehicles must be fitted with GPS tracking systems, panic buttons, dual cameras and digital logbooks. A minimum usage of 2,000 km per vehicle per month has been prescribed. Bids must be submitted through the State e-tender portal, and TNMLC reserves the right to modify or cancel the tender process at any stage.