With a massive investment of ₹2.40 lakh crore aimed at expansion of railway tracks, electrification and station facilities, the Indian Railways is eyeing a major transformation. According to reports, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam (RINL) is preparing to produce 55,000 wheels during the current financial year under this ambitious project.
RINL, a state-owned company based in Visakhapatnam, has recently started setting up a plant at Lalganj, Uttar Pradesh for manufacturing forged wheels, as informed by CMD Atul Bhatt. The plant, estimated to cost around Rs 2,000-3,000 billion, is expected to start operations in the next few years.
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During the last financial year, RINL supplied 2,465 loco wheels and 2,639 LHB wheels to the Indian Railways and received the Preliminary Acceptance Certificate for its plant. Bhatt further said that the production of wheels will be increased to 55,000 during the current financial year.
RINL’s foray into steel supply to the Indian Railways was in December 2021, when it dispatched a consignment of 52 wheels from its manufacturing unit at Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. Bhatt stressed that the move is aimed at reducing India’s dependence on imported steel and to enable the Indian Railways to use high-quality, Made in India railway parts instead of imported ones.
The Rae Bareli plant is a one-of-its-kind manufacturing plant, characterized by state-of-the-art technology and unparalleled sophistication in automation. It is specially designed to produce forged wheels that meet the rigorous demands of high-speed trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 kmph.
Bhatt revealed that RINL’s production capacity can potentially double to 2 lakh wheels per annum with the addition of facilities. He also highlighted that the plant will cater to the future demand for wheels in the international markets.
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RINL, a state-owned enterprise specialized in steel production, produces a diverse range of products such as billets and wire rod coils. As one of the leading integrated steel plants located along the coast, RINL’s entry into wheel manufacturing for Indian Railways is a significant step towards increasing domestic production and reducing dependence on imports.