Indian Railways enters new world market by exporting DMUs to Angola

Chennai Port, Jan 31 : Minister of State for Railways R. Velu today said that the Indian Railways has achieved another milestone by dispatching Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) coaches to Angola, the first ever export of Indian manufactured DMUs to the world market.

The fifteen DMU coaches, six each for two trains and three for self propelled accident relief train, manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), production unit of Indian Railways, Chennai and exported to Angola by RITES, were flagged off for export to Angola by Velu at a ceremony here today.

"This export of DMUs to Angola will bring great laurels to Indian Railways and to our country and open new vistas for similar exports in future," he said.

ICF has always been in the forefront to accept new challenges put forth by ever increasing needs of coaching stock for Indian Railways to satisfy domestic passenger rail traffic.

The present endeavour of designing and manufacture of DMUs, self-propelled accident relief train and other coaches for export to Angola is testimony of ICF's continued initiative to partner with RITES to boost exports on a sustainable basis.

"ICF have so far manufactured 230 varieties of different designs of coaches. It is still venturing into new designs and assimilating the latest technology available to provide the best comfort to the passengers," he added.

He further said that manufacture and dispatch of these DMUs and the self propelled accident relief train mark the successful completion of various on-going projects undertaken by RITES in Angola which include technical assistance, up-gradation of maintenance workshops and earlier export of passenger coaches manufactured in ICF and diesel locomotives manufactured in DLW, Varanasi.

He also appreciated RITES for achieving highest ever turnover of Rs. 265 crore in 2006-07 from export of locomotives and rolling stock as against previous best of Rs. 110 crore achieved in 2001-02.

"RITES has been a pioneer in executing Railway-related export projects in a variety of railway systems of different gauges all over the world," he said.

RITES has worked in about 60 countries worldwide and has undertaken a variety of projects of versatile nature and multiple complexities.

Some of the major projects have been undertaken in countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Senegal, Mali and Angola.

Speaking on the occasion, V.K. Agarwal, Managing Director, RITES said, "This is a momentous occasion for both RITES and ICF as it is the first time cape gauge DMUs have been designed and manufactured in the history of Indian Railways and are being exported by RITES."

The major ongoing export projects include - leasing of 25 locomotives in Tanzania and 20 locomotives in Mozambique, supply of 20 locomotives to Myanmar, leasing of 23 passenger coaches to Tanzania, rehabilitation of 73 and 88 class locomotives in Tanzania, rehabilitation of GE locomotives and wagons in Mozambique, rehabilitation of Traction equipment in Angola and maintenance support to locomotives for CDN, Nacala, Mozambique.

ANI