BHEL agrees to set up MEMU manufacturing unit

Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Railways to set up a Greenfield MEMU coaches manufacturing facility at Bhilwara in Rajasthan. Indian Railways introduced Main Line Electric Multiple Unit Trains, popularly known as MEMU trains, in the Year 1994-95, as a mode of rapid transit system, to cater to non-suburban passengers, residing in small towns and villages surrounding urban and industrial centres. Currently, there are about 160 MEMU services running. These MEMU trains have gained rapid popularity over the years. The MoU was signed in the presence of the Minister of Railways Pawan Kumar Bansal and the Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Praful Patel. The signatories to the MOU were KulBhushan, Member Electrical Railway Board, and BP Rao, CMD, BHEL. Compared to conventional loco hauled passenger trains, MEMU trains have higher passenger carrying capacity and higher average speed because of faster acceleration and braking characteristics. These rakes are now being manufactured with toilet facilities to take care of passenger needs. MEMU trains increase the line capacity utilisation, and therefore are more suitable for running on high traffic density routes.