More Garib Raths to be introduced:RCF GM

Kapurthala, Oct 25 (UNI) Seeing the overwhelming response of passengers to the Garib Rath, a dream project of Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the Railway ministry is planning to introduce more such trains from all the state capitals to the National Capital.

The Garib Rath provides low-cost air conditioned facilities to the poor people.

Disclosing this here today, Mr S K Suri who recently took over as General Manager of Rail Coach Factory (RCF) said the initial response on the Garib Rath running between Amritsar-Seharsa was lukewarm. '' But now the passengers response was very good and on seeing this, the Railways has decided to increase the number of coaches from 16 to 24 in this train,'' he added.

The other routes on which the railway has planned to run the Garib Rath include Nizamuddin-Patna, Nizamuddin-Bandra and Nizamuddin-Chennai during the next year.

Mr Suri disclosed that the next rake of sixteen coaches for the Garib Raths would be rolled out of the factory by the end of November this year. The factory would turn out 68 coaches, including 56 sleeper coaches and 12 power generation cars by the end of March next year for the Garib Raths.

Claiming that RCF had the capability to manufacture the coaches for metro trains, Mr Suri said RCF would participate in global bidding. He also claimed that RCF would also achieve its production target of 1268 coaches set by the Railway Board for this financial year.

He claimed that the present rate of production was about five coaches a day. He said the contract system in the factory was at a very low scale and recently recruited 234 employees to fulfill the vacant posts.

Commenting on the expansion plan of the factory, Mr Suri said a sum of Rs 60 crores was being spent to augment the machinery and plant, setting-up of a wheel shop and a centre for excellent design office to enhance the production of coaches.

The GM said factory was also manufacturing 30 coaches for export to Senegal and Mali and would also turn out 148 new German Design LHB coaches during this year.

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