Indian Railways is set to manufacture 120 upgraded Vande Bharat trains at Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur, Maharashtra. The move comes after Sudhakar Shringare, Lok Sabha MP from Latur, made several attempts to start production of India’s first indigenous semi-high-speed train at the earliest.
Recently, a consortium of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Russia’s CJSC Transmashholding emerged as the lowest bidder, offering a bid of Rs 120 crore per train set. A consortium of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Titagarh Wagons emerged as the second lowest bidder, offering to produce 80 rakes at a cost of Rs 140 crore per train set. A total of 1,920 coaches will be made at Latur, while 1,280 coaches will be made at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.
Earlier, Ministry of Railways – Railway Board had invited tenders worth Rs 58,000 crore to manufacture 200 sleeper versions of 16 coaches of Vande Bharat Express trains and maintain them for the next 35 years. The first Rs 26,000 crore will be paid at the time of delivery of the trains, while the remaining Rs 32,000 crore will be paid after 35 years.
The Vande Bharat Express train service was introduced four years ago as a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat and ‘Make in India’ initiative. The railways will have depots in six cities for maintenance which include Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Jodhpur.
The move is expected to give a boost to the railway sector in India and generate employment opportunities in the sector. The project will also promote local manufacturing, technology development and self-reliance in the country.
frequently Asked question:
Q1: What is Vande Bharat Express train service?
The Vande Bharat Express train service is an indigenous semi-high-speed train introduced by the Indian Railways four years ago as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Q2: How will this project promote self-reliance in India?
The project will promote self-reliance in India by promoting local manufacturing and technology development. Indian Railways is planning to manufacture trains in Latur and Chennai, which will help boost the economy and generate employment opportunities in the region.