Siemens made locomotive to be exported: Modi inaugurates 9,000 hp Made in India loco in Dahod
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi Monday inaugurated the first 9,000 horsepower locomotive manufactured at the rolling stock workshop facility in Dahod. The locomotive, called D9, is the second most powerful locomotive of the Indian Railways after the 12,000 horsepower WAG-12B.
Once 'counted among the 100 backward districts in the country', Modi said Dahod now finds itself on the world map. 'Made in India locomotives from Dahod will also now be exported to various countries across the world… It will also generate employment in the tribal region and support ancillary industries,' he said.
Over the next 11 years, the Dahod facility is expected to produce 1,200 electric freight locomotives at a total estimated cost of Rs 21,405 crore. At present, the Railways has around 12,000 electric locomotives.
While the Prime Minister laid the foundation of new loco unit in Dahod on April 20, 2022, German engineering giant Siemens bagged the contract for manufacturing and maintenance of these locomotives employing Railways manpower at four depots viz., Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Kharagpur and Pune, for 35 years.
Modi said India used to buy railway coaches from abroad. 'Now the money is ours, the work is ours and the result is ours. Today, India has become a big exporter in the world for railway manufacturing. Coaches of metro trains in Australia are made in Gujarat… In London, France, Mexico, Spain, Germany and Italy, too, Made in India railway products are in use. Our passenger coaches are in Mozambique, Sri Lanka and other countries,' he said.
The 9,000 horsepower locomotives are planned to be used primarily on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor to increase the average speed of trains to around 50-60 kmph compared with the existing 20-25 kmph. They have an AC cabin for the loco pilot and a toilet as well.
These locomotives can carry 4,500 tonnes of cargo in double stack configuration at the maximum speed of 75 kmph. These locomotives will be equipped with regenerative braking systems, and are being designed to reduce energy consumption. The ministry is collaborating with local engineering colleges for specialised training and skilled workforce, a Railways official said.
'The whole initiative is part of 'Make in India', which will boost domestic manufacturing. The locomotive will enhance the line capacity by increasing the speed. It will generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs,' the official said.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated doubling work at Anand-Godhra, Mehsana-Palanpur, Rajkot-Hadmatiya rail lines as well as the electrification of the 107-km Sabarmati-Botad rail line and the gauge conversion of Kalol-Kadi-Katosan rail line, amounting to Rs 2,287 crore works.
Modi pointed out when he laid the foundation stone at Dahod three years ago, some people said nothing would be built here and the foundation stone was an election gimmick. 'But you see, today, the first locomotive is ready. I just flagged off the locomotive… We have also achieved 100% electrification of Gujarat's rail network… My dream of seeing Dahod transform before my eyes has come true,' he said.
The Prime Minister also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Veraval and Ahmedabad and an Express train between Valsad and Dahod stations.
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