Bombardier from Canada and Siemens from Germany are among the major global players who have evinced an interest in the manufacture of EMU/MEMU coaches at the proposed Kanchrapara facility in West Bengal under the ambitious Rs 20,000 crore joint venture project of the Railways.
Railways had sought requests for qualification (RFQ) in June for manufacture of 5,000 modern Electric Multiple Unit/Mainline Electric Multiple Unit coaches over the next 10 years at the proposed JV facility.
The RFQ has got good response as Bombardier (Canada), Siemens (Germany) consortium, Alstom (France), CRRC Corporation (China) consortium, Stadler (Switzerland), Medha (India) consortium and BHEL, an Indian PSU, have made the cut to qualify for the bidding, a senior Railway Ministry official said.
Railways will float request for proposal (RFP) in November end and by May next year the contracts are expected to be awarded for the joint venture to the successful bidder.
Railways intends to acquire 500 EMU/MEMU coaches per year as assured offtake from the factory to press these modern coaches for faster local as well as mainline train service.
Equipped with automatic closing door, forced ventilation system, bio-toilet, regenerative braking system and better interior design, the non-AC stainless steel coaches will run faster than the existing coaches.
Railways will have 26 per cent stake in the EMU/MEMU coach facility.
Kanchrapara facility will be set up on the lines of Madhepura and Marhora locomotive factories in Bihar, said the official, adding, the factory will also be allowed to export after meeting the Railways’ requirement.
