Entrepreneurs Can Earn Big Money By Winning Railway Tenders

In an economy that is largely dependent on the railway transport for keeping it healthy and running, huge scope exists for the entrepreneurs to earn big money by bidding for and winning railway tenders. With a network of over 63,000 Kilometers that is growing constantly, the scope for entrepreneurs is really huge. In addition; the introduction of e-tendering process has opened up avenues for bidding, winning, and earning for the entrepreneurs have become easy and convenient.

Tendering Areas
Indian Railway is divided into multiple zones like North, North Eastern, North Western, Western, South Eastern, Southern and Central Zones. Railway budget is different and does not constitute a part of the general national budget. With every budget some extensions, reforms, and renovations in the railway systems are introduced. Since most of the procurements are done using railway tenders, they open up huge opportunities for aspirant bidders.

Types of Railway Tenders
Various types of railway tenders are floated at periodic intervals from different wings of the vast organization. All of them are also not directly related to running of passenger and goods trains but are affiliated services. Main types of railway tenders are for -

• Installation of railway tracks.
• Renovation and maintenance of railway tracks.
• Installation, maintenance, and renovation of underground railways.
• Construction and maintenance of railway bridges.
• Excavation and maintenance of railway tunnels.
• Installation of electrical wiring and other accessories for running trains.
• Electrical equipments and accessories relating to signaling and running of other instruments to manage the railway running system.
• Compartment, wagon, wreck, and other manufacturing railway tenders.
• Installation of electric fittings, sanitary fittings, and seats and seat covers etc. in the passenger trains.
• Coloring and painting of all types of trains including goods trains.
• Catering and hosting services in the passenger trains.
• Railway tenders for installation of computerized ticket booking systems.
• Announcements and bulletin boards in the railway stations.
• Furniture and accessories for the staff working in railway stations and level crossing cabins.
• Supply of stores and stationeries for offices in railway headquarters and stations.
• Accessories and fittings for railway engines including electric and diesel engines.

There could be numerous other types of railway tenders but these are some of the major areas where such tenders are regularly floated.

Sources for Tenders
While information relating to railway tenders will be available in most of the leading and informative websites, the best source is the website of Indian Railways where all types of tender information will be available for the prospective bidders. Besides this information, the site also offers a complete description about the requirements for bidding including documents, bid amount, and other requisites.

Change for the Better
In the traditional railway tenders process there were several bottlenecks. Realizing the drawbacks of the traditional system of allotment of works on the basis of "lowest rates" through which many untenable bidders were creeping in, the railways has now adopted the system of "lowest workable acceptable rates".

Marked shift in railway tenders is now more on quality than on lowest rates. Hence, prospective bidders should only bid for tenders befitting their expertise, experience, resources, and status.

Railway Tenders Can be the Gateway to Flourishing Business

For quite long Indian Railways has worked as the backbone of the Indian economy. It is not only the economic, political, and social systems that depend largely on the system but also large part of the populace depend on them. In fact the 65 thousand kilometer long railway network in India is the lifeline of the entire country providing necessary freight and passenger transportation. Requirements are obvious for running smoothly such a huge system and multiple railway tenders are floated by Indian Railways for meeting those requirements from time to time.

Areas of Opportunities
Major areas providing opportunities with substantial numbers of railway tenders for the prospective bidders of railways tenders are –

• Setting up new railway lines.
• Construction of railway stations and platforms.
• Installation of controlling devices like signal systems and construction of gates at level crossings.
• Construction of over bridges and flyovers where required.
• Maintenance of existing railway lines.
• Maintenance of buildings and platforms constructed.
• Maintenance of all controlling and security devices.
• Computer hardware, software, and maintenance for carrying out automatic booking systems and works related to it.
• Railway catering services.
• Utility services in the railways stations and trains.
• Maintenance of railway compartments and freight carrying bogies.

Tasks Carried Out Through Tenders
Most of the tasks are carried out by opting for railway tenders by the Indian railways. Such tenders call out every type of executants from government, semi-government, public sector undertakings, state and autonomous bodies, as well as from private sectors. It is the private sector that offers the best opportunities for prospective bidders to bid and win such tenders and get lots of profit.

Affiliate Work Tenders
Besides the regular works tendering opportunities are also available in affiliated fields. Such railway tenders can come in form of –

• Repair, clearing, and maintenance of cabins.
• Making of signage boards.
• Providing bed rolls and other accessories.
• Running the catering services on board.

Railway Tenders Online
These days Indian Railways has been going largely for e-procurement in order to avoid the head to head tenders and bidding. Sometimes it becomes very difficult handling such situations when the bidding and winning takes place physically in the open. No such hassles are experienced in e-tendering. Thus, majority of the railway tenders are now floated, responded to, won or lost online by the prospective bidders. It is also hassle free for the bidders as they can conclude the transaction sitting at the cool comforts of their home. Moreover, entrepreneurs that previously did not have the chance of bidding for the traditional tenders also get the chances to apply for the e-tenders.

Since Indian Railways is looking forward to getting the best at the cheapest, they are gradually making railway tenders free for all and for larger ones; global.

Railway Electrification Tenders are Growing Along With Indian Railways

With the Indian Railways appreciating the benefits of electrification and gradually shifting away from traditional coal or diesel run locomotives, the prospects of getting good business by responding to Railway Electrification Tenders have improved a great deal.

There was a time when Indian Railways was completely dependent on traditional fuels like coal for running both passenger and freight trains. After some time liquid fuels, especially diesel was introduced and for sometimes these two fuels dominated the railway carriage system. Gradually however the scarcity of traditional fuels and growing pressure on both freight and passenger carriage brought up necessity of finding out an alternative source of energy for running the railways service effectively. Electricity was the answer to the problem and this resulted in an influx of Railway electrical tenders in the market.

Huge Opportunities
With over 65000 Kilometers of railway network, India is one of the largest users of railways in both passenger and freight carriage. By now, over one fourth of the entire railway system has been electrified. Though the authorities intend to carry on the electrification works much longer and with much more intensity, the capital cost involved is preventing quick transgression from non-electrical to electrical railways system in the country.

Why Railway Electrical Tenders
Some of the reasons why the Railways electronic tenders are getting strength are as follows.

• Electrification of railways will provide operational cost savings.
• Such electrification will also provide environmental improvements as they do not create the pollutions created by the smoke emitted by coal and diesel.

Areas offering Opportunities
Some of the areas where electric lines have already been made operative are the followings.

• Delhi-Calcutta-Mumbai triangles.
• Delhi-Chennai-Shoranur.
• Chennai-Vijaywada-Visakhapattanam
• Delhi-Ambala-Ludhiana.

Since 60% of the freight traffic and 40% of the passenger traffic are hauled by electric trains.

A Few Facts for the Bidders
Prospective bidders desirous of winning Railways electrical tenders should take care of a few facts that would help them greatly in bidding for and winning these tenders. Usually the price for electrification per kilometer of line comes to around 6.5 million rupees for single track lines. Each year the budgetary allocation for electrification of railways is going up and new opportunities are created for prospective bidders. However the bidders should have –

• Knowledge, experience, and expertise in the required field.
• Should have good reputation in the market.
• Must be able to accomplish the task according to the time schedule and as per specifications given by the procuring agency.

Source of Tender
Usually the source of Railway electrification tenders is the Indian Railways and its different wings like the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and South Eastern Railways. However these days many corporate houses are also going for electrified railway tracks basically used for carrying coal, iron, and other raw materials and fuels to their factories.

There is no dearth of scope for eligible bidders to bid for the tenders.