+
Hilton Develops India-Made Forged Railway Wheelsets
ECONOMY & POLICY

Hilton Develops India-Made Forged Railway Wheelsets

Hilton Metal Forging Ltd has successfully developed and manufactured indigenous Railway Forged Wagon Wheelsets, which have been inspected and approved by RITES, the Indian government’s quality assurance agency. Each wheelset includes two forged wheels and one forged axle, with every rail coach or wagon requiring four such wheelsets.

The company aims to meet the growing demand from Indian railway wagon manufacturers and reduce reliance on Chinese imports. Under the “Make in India” initiative, Hilton plans to manufacture over 3,000 wheelsets in FY26 and scale up to more than 12,000 units in FY27. The targeted installed capacity is set at 20,000 wheelsets annually.

India’s railway freight sector is undergoing rapid expansion, with the government aiming to increase the modal share of freight transport via railways from 27 per cent to 45 per cent by 2030. With 98 per cent of the rail network already electrified and the implementation of Mission Raftaar, the focus remains on enhancing the speed and efficiency of both freight and passenger trains across the country.

In FY25, Indian factories manufactured 41,929 freight wagons, 1,681 locomotives (up 19 per cent from FY24), and 7,134 passenger coaches. Around 90,000 units—including freight wagons, coaches, and locomotives—undergo periodic maintenance annually at 44 railway workshops. This generates a steady annual demand of approximately 170,000 new wheelsets and 250,000 new wheels.

Hilton’s forged wheelsets are expected to contribute significantly to meeting this demand, aligning with national priorities for self-reliance and localisation in high-performance railway components.

Hilton Metal Forging Ltd has successfully developed and manufactured indigenous Railway Forged Wagon Wheelsets, which have been inspected and approved by RITES, the Indian government’s quality assurance agency. Each wheelset includes two forged wheels and one forged axle, with every rail coach or wagon requiring four such wheelsets.The company aims to meet the growing demand from Indian railway wagon manufacturers and reduce reliance on Chinese imports. Under the “Make in India” initiative, Hilton plans to manufacture over 3,000 wheelsets in FY26 and scale up to more than 12,000 units in FY27. The targeted installed capacity is set at 20,000 wheelsets annually.India’s railway freight sector is undergoing rapid expansion, with the government aiming to increase the modal share of freight transport via railways from 27 per cent to 45 per cent by 2030. With 98 per cent of the rail network already electrified and the implementation of Mission Raftaar, the focus remains on enhancing the speed and efficiency of both freight and passenger trains across the country.In FY25, Indian factories manufactured 41,929 freight wagons, 1,681 locomotives (up 19 per cent from FY24), and 7,134 passenger coaches. Around 90,000 units—including freight wagons, coaches, and locomotives—undergo periodic maintenance annually at 44 railway workshops. This generates a steady annual demand of approximately 170,000 new wheelsets and 250,000 new wheels.Hilton’s forged wheelsets are expected to contribute significantly to meeting this demand, aligning with national priorities for self-reliance and localisation in high-performance railway components.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India to Invest Rs 600 Billion to Upgrade 1,000 ITIs

As part of its drive to modernise vocational training, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with Gujarat’s Labour and Employment Department, held a State-Level Workshop at the NAMTECH Campus within IIT-Gandhinagar to discuss the National Scheme for ITI Upgradation.The consultation brought together key stakeholders from industry and the training ecosystem to align expectations and support implementation of the scheme, which aims to transform 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across India using a hub-and-spoke model. The total outlay stands ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India Unveils Rs 600 Billion Maritime Finance Push

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) hosted the Maritime Financing Summit 2025 in New Delhi, bringing together over 250 stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, global investors, and financial institutions. The summit, held under the ambit of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, focused on transforming India into a leading maritime power with strengthened financial, infrastructural, and technological capabilities.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised India's strategic progress, noting that average port turnaround times have dropped from four days to u..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Govt Allocates Rs 500 Million To Boost Community Radio

The Central Government, through its ‘Supporting Community Radio Movement in India’ scheme, has allocated Rs 500 million to strengthen the community radio ecosystem across the country. The initiative aims to assist both newly established and long-operational Community Radio Stations (CRSs), ensuring their relevance to local educational, social, cultural, and developmental needs.According to the policy published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CRSs may be set up by not-for-profit organisations with at least three years of demonstrated community service. These stations are ex..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?