ICF to produce 1,710 coaches in FY 2014-15

CHENNAI: The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai plans to manufacture 1,710 coaches this fiscal year after achieving highest ever production of 1,622 last year, said Ashok K Agarwal, general manager, ICF, on Friday.
Speaking after hoisting the national flag to mark the 68th Independence Day celebrations at the factory, he said: "In the first four months of the current production year, the ICF manufactured 521 coaches, which is 35% higher than that in the corresponding period of last year.In fact, the ICF achieved the highest ever production in all the four months of the current fiscal year."
He further mentioned that in the coming days, keeping pace with the new technology, it would manufacture more and more self-propelled coaches with energy efficient 3-phase propulsion system.
"Almost all of these coaches will be of stainless steel design in line with railway board's directive to switch over to 100% stainless steel coaches. With the completion of the Linke Hoffman Burke (LHB) unit, with an installed capacity of 300 coaches per annum, which is in the final stages of construction, the ICF is planning to manufacture 300 LHB coaches in the year 2015-16."
He said that the ICF was continuously striving to improve quality of its products and was taking lot of initiatives in this regard. It had organized customer interaction meets with field-level officers and supervisors of various zonal railways.
"The information and feedback received in these meets will be utilized to carry out better design modifications for providing better facilities for passengers," he added.
The ICF has manufactured more than 48,000 coaches since its inception in 1952.
The factory has achieved yet another milestone by turning out the 50,000th shell since its inception.
It has won the prestigious International ‘The Global Green Award' 2014 for its outstanding environmental achievements, sustainable practices and green energy initiatives.
The award, given by the "OMAC" Paris, is the first international recognition received by the ICF.
As part of the Independence Day celebrations, Railway Protection Force contingents presented a colourful march past and guard of honour to the general manager.