PRAYAGRAJ, Sept. 13 -- All meritorious girl students in Uttar Pradesh are set to get free two-wheelers maximum by January-end under the state government's ambitious Rani Lakshmi Bai Scooty Scheme.

The higher education department has floated a tender on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for procurement of 40,000 scooties at an estimated cost of Rs.320 crore. The selected company will have to supply all the two-wheelers within 100 days, with the government aiming to complete the purchase process by September end, officials of higher education directorate shared.

An online pre-bid meeting with prospective vendors has been scheduled for September 21. The last date for submitting bids is September 26, while the bids will be opened on...