MANISH GUPTA
Ranchi, Oct 13: Public sector undertaking Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) is the most suitable candidate for a tender floated by the Indian Railways to build wheels for high-speed trains, said BJP leader and former RS member Mahesh Poddar.
“The Railways has mandated an early deadline of 18 months within which to set up the plant. HEC has the required infrastructure. The PSU can rejig the factory to produce the train wheels on its own or in public-private partnership,” Poddar told lagatar24.com.
On September 9, the Indian Railways came out with a tender to set up a factory for manufacturing wheels for high-speed trains like Bande Bharat under ‘Make in India’ initiative to stop import of forged wheels that has been continuing since 1960.
Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has said that the country’s annual demand for wheels will be two lakhs for the high-speed trains and half of it will be provided by the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and rest is expected from the new plant.
Poddar has written a letter to the Railway Minister suggesting producing rail wheels in HEC. He submitted an expert report on the capabilities of HEC that says adequate infrastructure is available with HEC for manufacturing railway wheels and axles.
The MP, who has advocated the revival of HEC several times in the past, said, “If the railways give an opportunity, the HEC can manufacture the wheels and axles for use in India as well as for exports. This will be a milestone for building a self-reliant India.”
HEC has about 2,000 acres of land, railway siding, skilled labor, and residential colonies for workers. The PSU can provide the infrastructure, and the required technology and investment can be brought in by the private party, the Ranchi-based leader said.
Since most of the facilities for forging and furnacing are already installed here, production can be started within just one and a half years, the timeline set by the Railways, he said. The HEC would only require a machine line to connect the axles to the wheels.
It may be noted that the six-decade-old PSU has been running in losses for some years. While the Centre has shown no interest in reviving it, its CMD Nalin Singhal, who also heads Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), seems to have written it off as he rarely visits it.
Singhal was awarded ‘CEO with HR Orientation’ early this year in Mumbai by World HRD Congress, founded by change management specialist RL Bhatia.
