With the acquisition of 16,638 wagons, Indian Railways have set new record in the procurement of wagons in the financial year 2010-11. This is the highest ever wagon procurement in a single year since independence. The Railway Ministry said the highlight of this procurement is that some upgrades in wagons that had eluded Railways for almost a decade have now been applied for the first time. “Railways have not only procured the highest number of wagons but procurements have also been superior in terms of technical specifications. The availability of sufficient number of wagons would help enhance and improve freight movement across Indian Railways thereby accelerating country’s economic growth,” a Ministry release said.
The coach factories of Indian Railways produced 3079 passenger coaches during the financial year 2010-11, which is again the highest ever production in a year since independence.
The Locomotive Production Units of Indian Railways also achieved highest ever production of 497 locomotives in the year 2010-11 which include 267 diesel locomotives and 230 electric locomotives. The record output of diesel locomotives includes modern high horse power engines. The production of electric engines includes green three phase drive locomotives which have regenerative capability of producing electric power during breaking of trains.
The Ministry of Railways last year took over the wagon producing PSU M/s. Braithwaite Company Limited so as to leverage its purchase power for revival of the company. During takeover, sufficient wagon orders have been placed with the company by the Ministry of Railways for gainful utilization of the manpower and assets of the company.
Railways recorded the highest ever achievement in construction of new line and doubling projects in the financial year 2010-11. Railways has achieved the construction of 709 kilometres of new lines in the year 2010-11, against the annual average of 180 kilometres new lines since independence. In case of doubling projects also, the progress during 2010-11 has been 769 kilometres, which is the highest ever and almost three times the average annual progress of 260 kilometres of doubling achieved since independence. Railways also completed 837 kilometres in gauge conversion in 2010-11 which is again more than the target of 834 kilometres.
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