New Delhi: The Modi government has made a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate the railways in the country. So far ten Vande Bharat Express trains running at high speed have been started and the target is to run hundreds of such trains in the coming days. But most of the wheels required for these trains are still being imported from abroad. These wheels are being sourced from China due to the Russia-Ukraine war. But soon this situation is going to change. Forged wheels used on passenger trains in the country will now be manufactured in India only. Railways had floated a tender to set up its manufacturing plant in the country. Every year 80,000 wheels will be ready in this plant so that the needs of the country can be met. It is considered important for the Make in India initiative.
Three companies had bid for this plant. In this, apart from Ramakrishna Forgings, a Kolkata-based company, Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and Bharat Forge also bid. Its price bid was opened on Tuesday. In this, Ramakrishna Forgings has been declared as L1. The company had bid Rs 1,88,100 per tonne. Bharat Forge’s bid was Rs 2,75,000 and SAIL’s bid was Rs 2,89,500. The successful bidder will be required to set up a manufacturing plant and supply 80,000 wheels annually within 36 months from the date of award.
Vande Bharat Delhi to Varanasi: Now Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat will run six days a week
which countries do the wheels come from
Currently, SAIL is supplying wheels at Rs 1,87,000 per tonne. Presently, SAIL has an annual capacity of 40,000 wheels. RINL has a capacity of 80,000 wheels but the company is yet to start regular commercial production. Railways has been importing forged wheels for locomotives and coaching stocks since the 1960s. These are sourced from UK, Czech Republic, Brazil, Romania, Japan, China, Ukraine and Russia. About 80,000 wheels were imported in the financial year 2022-23. These were imported from Russia and China and about Rs 520 crore was spent on them. Also, 40,000 wheels were supplied by SAIL. Due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, these wheels are being imported from China itself. By 2026, the demand for these wheels in the country is estimated to reach two lakh. The reason for this is that more and more high speed trains are being run in the country.
