BHEL bags single-largest order in Transportation business for 150 Mainline Electric Locomotives

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has achieved a major landmark by securing the largest-ever contract in the transportation business segment. The order for the manufacture and supply of 150 electric locomotives has been placed on BHEL by Indian Railways.

Valued at Rs.9,900 Million, the order for 150 numbers 5000 HP 25 kV AC mainline electric locomotives (type WAG -7) is also the highest value single order received by BHEL from Indian Railways, till date. With this, Indian Railways have reposed their confidence in BHEL’s capabilities and technological excellence.

BHEL is already executing an order for 50 numbers of similar rating locomotives for Indian Railways and the present order is in addition to the ongoing order. The company will manufacture and supply these locos at the rate of 50 per year from its Jhansi unit.

Significantly, these locomotives will have many firsts like ergonomically designed AC cabins for the comfort of drivers; tri-plate console for brake system resulting in compact and clean layout; state-of-the art cable management system with EPDM modules, etc.

In the area of transportation, BHEL is the leading supplier of traction equipment and electric locomotives to Indian Railways. The company is gearing up to meet the emerging demand in the transportation segment, which is expected to grow exponentially due to Indian Railways’ plans for capacity enhancements both in rolling stocks as well as Rail network

As part of this, BHEL is infusing new investments at its Jhansi plant to meet the requirement of Indian Railways for Electric Locos. The company has also geared up to supply 3 phase IGBT based propulsion electrics for locos and EMUs/DEMUs.

BHEL has been committed to the nation’s infrastructure development programme and has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian infrastructure sector by equipping itself for the future, by way of technology, facilities and trained manpower. The company is one of the leading engineering and manufacturing organisations in the world, supplying products and systems to core sectors viz. power generation, transmission and distribution, transportation, defence and industries like metallurgical, petrochemicals, refineries, fertilisers, paper, cement, etc., besides oil exploration and production.

As a result of increased customer focus and renewed efforts for entry into new business areas, BHEL’s Industry Sector business segment recorded an all-time high order inflow of Rs.102,540 Million during the last fiscal (2008-09) – an increase of 30% over the previous year in Captive Power, Transportation, Power Transmission, Oil & Gas and other industrial segments.