Railways floats tender of Rs 30k cr for 800 electric train engines

09 May 2022 CW Team

On 4 May, the Indian Railways floated a tender for the manufacture and supply of 800 electric train engines under a contract worth around Rs 30,000 crores.

These electric train engines of 12,000-horsepower will be supplied over the next 10 years and will be manufactured at Varanasi's Banaras Locomotive Works.

The notice inviting the bid stated that these train engines are to be maintained at Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Tughlakabad (Delhi), and Sabarmati (Gujarat).

These electric train engines are to be utilised all over the Indian Railways and dedicated freight corridor (DFC) routes. Each train engine must be competent in hauling 6,000 tonnes of load at an average speed of 75 kilometres per hour (kmph).

The concept of trains for freight movement was proposed in 2007-08. Generally, the freight trains were underpowered, and this slowed down the movement of trains.

Railway Board former member traffic, VN Mathur, told the media that the new locomotives would be much more competent in handling heavy-haul loads on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC).

In 2015, a similar tender for 12,000-HP electric locomotives was awarded to Alstom as a contract part worth about Rs 28,195 crores.

The contract was to supply 800 locomotives for freight service, competent in hauling 6,000 tonnes at a maximum speed of 120 kmph.

This contract has been the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) project in the Indian railway sector till now.

A retired railway official told the media that this was the first successful public-private partnership (PPP) of the Indian Railways. Alstom had bid for supplying at around Rs 38 crore per locomotive. At that time, the international market value was around Rs 60 crore per locomotive.

Image Source

Also read: Railways invites bids for 200 Vande Bharat Trains

Infrastructure Urban

29 Oct 2025

Designing Tomorrow: Amaravati’s Net Zero Landmark

Amaravati has achieved a defining landmark in India’s sustainable infrastructure journey with the inauguration of the APCRDA Project Office, the nation’s first government building to earn the IGBC Net Zero Energy Rating – Design Stage. Conceptualised by the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) and certified by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), the project exemplifies how governance, design and innovation can converge to deliver measurable environmental impact.A vision rooted in sustainabilitySet within a 4.3-acre site along the Seed Access Road in the Amar..

Pidilite Elevates Construction with PPS

Pidilite Industries introduced Pidilite Professional Solutions (PPS) — a dedicated vertical for the construction and interiors ecosystem — at ACETECH Bengaluru 2025. Designed to empower architects, developers, contractors, and interior specialists, PPS delivers comprehensive support that extends far beyond products to ensure project excellence from concept to completion. Kavinder Singh, Joint Managing Director, Pidilite Industries, noted, “At Pidilite, we believe in enabling the construction fraternity to build boldly and sustainably. With Pidilite Professional Solutions (PPS),..

Punjab, Centre Fast-Track Rajpura-Mohali Rail Line Development

The central government has fast-tracked the construction of the Rajpura-Mohali rail line to enhance connectivity in Punjab. This ambitious infrastructure project, aimed at improving transportation links between Rajpura and Mohali, has been identified as a key step in fostering regional economic growth. Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced the project’s acceleration during a recent assessment of the area. The rail line is expected to play a significant role in reducing travel time, promoting industrial growth, and boosting logistics efficiency in the region. The project,..