KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): The Ministry of Railways, Government of India, has granted a contract under the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Initiative to a consortium of Ramkrishna Forgings Limited (RKFL) and Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL). The consortium will be responsible for manufacturing and supplying 1,540,000 forged wheels over a period of 20 years.
The consortium of RKFL and TRSL will supply 40,000 forged wheels in the 1st year and 60,000 wheels in the 2nd year. Subsequently, in each subsequent year, they will supply 80,000 wheels as per the contract. The total value of the contract is estimated to be ₹12,226.5 crores.
The Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Initiative, aimed at reducing India’s reliance on imported wheels, has opened up manufacturing opportunities for Indian companies to produce and supply high-quality forged wheels to the Indian Railways. This initiative aligns with the government’s vision of making India self-reliant, with the goal of achieving complete localization of wheel production through private Indian entities. By catering to various platforms such as LHB coaches, WAG9 locomotives, and Vande Bharat Express trains, the wheels manufactured under this agreement will meet the diverse requirements of the railways.
To fulfill this project, the RKFL-TRSL consortium plans to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility capable of producing 200,000 wheels annually when fully operational. The facility will not only cater to the domestic railway sector but also tap into latent demand from the private sector and export markets. It will necessitate a capital expenditure ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 crores in order to execute this project successfully. To meet the financial requirements, both companies will contribute equal equity, ensuring a robust funding structure for the project’s capital expenditure needs.
Mr. Naresh Jalan, the Managing Director of Ramkrishna Forgings Limited (RKFL), expressed his gratitude for being chosen by the Ministry of Railways for this remarkable opportunity. He stated that the selection of their consortium for this project serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment to promoting indigenous manufacturing and fostering self-reliance. He further emphasized that by leveraging their collective capabilities and vast experience, they are determined to deliver unmatched products that will significantly improve the performance and safety of the Indian rail network. the consortium eagerly looks forward to establishing a long-term partnership with the Ministry of Railways with a resolute vision to contribute to the growth of the Indian railways and foster self-sufficiency.
Mr. Umesh Chowdhary, the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), expressed his joy at being awarded this landmark contract and expressed his eagerness to begin production at the earliest. As a partner in the winning consortium, TRSL is fully committed to realizing the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, as envisioned by the Honourable Prime Minister. They will steadfastly work towards localizing the production of forged wheels in India. With this contract, the Titagarh group aims to uphold its motto of delivering high-quality mobility solutions and aims to establish itself as a world-class service provider in the infrastructure sector.
The contract awarded to the RKFL – TRSL consortium marks a significant step in promoting self-reliance and indigenous manufacturing, as the consortium undertakes the responsibility of supplying a large number of forged wheels to the Indian Railways for 20 years.
