Railway Budget 09-10: Wagon makers revitalised by Mamata Banerjee

KOLKATA: Wagon makers have been truly revitalised by Railway minister Mamata Banerjee. Compared to 11K wagons per annum, the railway minister on

Friday announced that 18K vehicle units would be manufactured in 2009-10.

"There’s a huge demand for EMU/MEMUs and Metro coaches in the country and capacity addition is an immediate requirement," the railway minister announced on Friday.

What’s more, Indian Railways intends to set up a new coach manufacturing factory in the Kanchrapara-Halisahar Railway complex on existing railway land either through JVor PPP routes.

Railway Budget 2009-10 also stresses on modernisation of rolling stock through induction of high-end technology for new design, higher capacity wagons, higher horse power locos and stainless steel coaches & wagons.

On increased wagon procurement, Texmaco president & CEO Ramesh Maheshwari said: "The railway budget for ‘09-10 augurs well for wagon units with robust infrastructure and technology platform, and those engaged in the manufacture of special purpose, new design, high payload wagons. There will also be a huge requirement of special wagons because of the renewed emphasis on infrastructure development to spur economic growth and the railway’s programme to accelerate dedicated freight corridor."

Echoing similar sentiments, Titagarh Wagons vice-chairman & managing director Umesh Chowdhary said, "By increasing the number of wagons to be purchased, railway minister has ensured that there is adequate capacity available in the railway infrastructure to attract more traffic from the roadways. The emphasis on developing railway infrastructure including the dedicated freight corridor will also woo traffic from road to rail".

"Railway minister has shown commendable vision by putting the public private partnership route in focus. From the proposed EMU coach factory at Kanchrapara to upgradation of important stations to international standards, or developing multi-functional complexes, she has opened a new vista for using the resources and expertise of the private sector. This is going to bring in unprecedented growth in Indian Railways," Mr Pawan K Ruia, chairman, Ruia Group, pointed out.

Mr Maheshwari, however, is of the view that "there is a pressing need for the railways to review and energise the ‘liberalised wagon investment scheme’ to encourage procurement of wagons under the PPP model since the scheme has virtually remained inoperative compared to the earlier ‘wagon investment scheme’. The ‘wagon leasing scheme’ announced by the railways in April 2008 has also remained largely inert and calls for a review to remove a few irritants so that the scheme may take off at the earliest."