Bihar-made locomotives to power global railways as Marhaura factory gears up for exports

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said India has achieved a major milestone of manufacturing 1,400 locomotives in the current financial year, and that locomotives manufactured in Bihar will soon be used across the world as Marhaura unit will soon begin exporting.

“This year, a significant milestone has been achieved in locomotive manufacturing, with 1,400 locomotives being produced. If we include America and Europe, India is manufacturing even more locomotives than these regions combined this year,” Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Rajya Sabha today, adding that more than 2 lakh wagons have been added to the entire fleet.

“Today, India is exporting metro coaches to Australia. The mechanical structure beneath locomotives and coaches is called the bogie, with the coach on top and the underframe below. Now, underframes are being exported to the UK, Saudi Arabia, France, and Australia,” Vaishnaw added.

“Propulsion, which is a crucial component of power electronics, is now being exported to France, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Germany, and Italy,” he said. “Passenger coaches are being exported to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Locomotives are now being sent to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Bangladesh,” Vaishnaw added.

Vaishnaw said the locomotives manufactured in Marhaura, Bihar, will soon be exported. “The factory in Bihar, which was announced by Hon’ble Shri Lalu Yadav, remained inactive and was revived in 2014 when Hon’ble Modi Ji took charge of the nation. Work began on this factory, located in Marhaura, Saran district, Bihar. Now, the export of around 100 locomotives manufactured there is set to begin soon. Made in Bihar locomotives will soon be reaching destinations across the world,” said Vaishnaw.