Latur rail coach factory commissioned with production of first coach shell
04 Jan 2021
Marathwada Rail Coach Factory, at Latur, in Maharashtra has come out with its first coach shell three years after the project was awarded. The state-of-the-art factory was set up in two years to manufacture self-propelled trains for Indian Railways.
Indian Railways’ PSU Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) commissioned Marathwada Rail Coach Factory on Good Governance Day, ie, 25 December 2020, with production of the first coach shell.
A rail ministry statement issued on Monday said Marathwada Rail Coach Factory will significantly contribute to overall development of the region heralding a modern industrial ecosystem. The factory has been designed with an initial capacity of manufacturing 250 MEMU / EMU / LHB / trainset type advanced coaches per annum. Its capacity can be enhanced significantly as sufficient vacant space has been marked in the layout plan.The cost of this project amounts to Rs500 crore plus the land cost of Rs120 crore.
The factory has been set up in a 350-acre plot of land comprising 52,000 square meter pre-engineered building sheds, three line yards, electric substation with 33kV supply, canteen, security and administrative blocks and a residential colony in 24 acres.
A 5 km long rail connectivity has been provided for movement of coaches from the factory to a new electronically interlocked Harangul railway station, which earlier used to be only a halt station. The factory has been equipped with the latest state-of-the-art plant and machinery, material handling systems and various utilities.
The project also boasts of various green initiatives which include 800 kW shed roof mounted solar power plant, sewage and waste water treatment and recycling plant, rain water harvesting, plantation of 10,000 trees, LED lighting, natural day lighting and ventilation in sheds. The administrative block has also been built with green building concepts.
As soon as the project was sanctioned on 28 August 2018, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, a Mini-Ratna PSU of the ministry of railways, awarded a composite contract on 30 August 2018 for its fast track turnkey execution and physical work commenced at site on 12 October 2018.
It is expected that the factory will manufacture more coach shells and eventually fully furnished train units in near future.