Railways to get made-in-China metro for Kolkata

Railways to get made-in-China metro for Kolkata

Indian Railways for the first time has roped in an international train-maker to manufacture rakes for country's first underground mass transit system in Kolkata. Beijing-headquartered world's largest rolling stock company China Railway Rolling Stock Corp Ltd (CRRC) has bagged the order to manufacture 14 modern air-conditioned rakes (each rake constitutes eight coaches) for Kolkata Metro.

The rakes would be supplied by CNR Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock, a subsidiary of CERC - a state-owned company of China with a turnover of about USD 145 billion.

While Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) avails coaches from international coach makers such as Hyundai Rotem and Bombardier; its forerunner and the country's first underground mass transit system in Kolkata was so far dependent on the Railways' Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur (near Chennai) for rolling stock.

"These 14 rakes from China will start coming in two years," Kolkta Metro spokesperson R N Mahapatra told Business Standard.

While Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) avails coaches from international coach makers such as Hyundai Rotem and Bombardier; its forerunner and the country's first underground mass transit system in Kolkata was so far dependent on the Railways' Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur (near Chennai) for rolling stock.

The value of the order has not been shared by the railways, while a source claimed the order worth about Rs 800 crore. The ICF-manufactured AC-rakes (each rake of eight coaches) currently run by Kolkata Metro costs Rs 38 crore each.

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However, roping in a manufacturer to supply rakes for Kolkata Metro has not been that easy. Officials said, It was in 2011, when the railways for the first time floated a global tender to procure rakes for Kolkata Metro. Apart from this chinese major, Spanish firm Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) showed interest and participated in the bidding along with some Indian firms.. But, Railways cancelled the bidding process mid-way and floated a fresh tender last year.

Apart from cost constraints, there were technical issues as well. "The manufacturers across the globe are more accustomed to the standard gauge. But the present Kolkata metro is a broad-gauge system, unlike metro in other parts of the country, which are of standard gauge. Hence, we had some difficulties to find a manufacturer,"

The rakes run now by Kolkata Metro are indigenously developed by ICF. Though some of them have been upgraded and some AC-rakes have been introduced in the last couple of years, there is technical limitation. Reports of metro service being affected due to techincal glitches with the rakes are common.The 14 new coaches are expected to be based on the latest technology and expected to address such issues.

The metro in Kolkata, with an average daily traffic of over half a million, currently runs 27 rakes, including 13 AC rakes. Apart from these 14 rakes from China, ICF too would be supplying two AC-rakes to Kolkata metro in a couple of years. By 2016, Kolkata Metro plans to run AC-rakes only.

Source : Business Standard