BHEL-led Consortium Wins Bid to Manufacture 80 Sleeper Edition Vande Bharat Express Trains Worth Over Rs 9,600 Crore
The Indian Railways has awarded the contract to manufacture 80 Vande Bharat trains with sleeper coaches to the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)-led consortium. The regulatory filing was made in the Bombay Stock Exchange, as per the mandatory requirement for the public sector unit.
Financial bids were recently opened by the Indian Railways for the production of 200 Vande Bharat trains equipped with sleeper coaches. The consortium comprising BHEL and Titagarh Wagons Ltd, known as Technology Partner, will supply the 80 trains over a period of 72 months.
The order for the 80 Vande Bharat trains, worth over Rs 9,600 crore, comes with a cost of Rs 120 crore for each train, excluding taxes and duties. Furthermore, the consortium has also secured the order for AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) for a duration of 35 years.
Demand for sleeper class Vande Bharat trainsets is high as these can operate on longer routes such as Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah. Currently, all Vande Bharat trains in operation only have chair car and executive chair car classes.
The consortium will not only supply the 80 trains but also equip, upgrade, operate, and maintain the exclusive manufacturing unit at Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, and two depots assigned by the Indian Railways.
The Russian company TMH in partnership with RVNL had secured the order to manufacture 120 Vande Bharat trains at Latur. However, the BHEL-led consortium managed to win the contract for manufacturing 80 Vande Bharat trains with sleeper coaches.
Conclusion
The awarding of the contract to BHEL-led consortium to manufacture 80 Vande Bharat trains with sleeper coaches comes as good news for the Indian Railways. The supply of these trains will cater to the demand for sleeper class Vande Bharat trainsets and provide passengers with a comfortable long-distance travel experience. The AMC order for 35 years ensures the maintenance and upkeep of the trains, which will be beneficial for the Indian Railways in the long run.
