The Indian Railways has awarded a Rs 817.74 crore wagon manufacturing contract to a joint venture of SAIL and RITES. The Bogie Open Wagons (BOXNHL) are meant to transport coal and iron ore.
According to officials, the tender for 2000 such wagons was awarded in the last week of April to SAIL-RITES Bengal Wagon Industry Private Ltd (SRBWIPL).
The tender is supposed to be the first for the wagon procurement awarded by the national transporter in the current financial year 2024-25.
In March 2024, Kolkata-based Besco, Hindustan Engineering and Industries (HEI), Jupiter Wagons, and Titagarh Rail Systems were awarded the tender for supplying Bogie Open Wagon (BOSM) to the Indian Railways.
HEI was awarded the order for supplying 4,500 wagons worth Rs 1924.88 crore in this tender. Titagarh Rail Systems came second with the order for 4,463 wagons worth Rs 1909.05 crore.
The interim budget has earmarked Rs 41,086.09 crore towards purchasing rolling stock such as engines, wagons, and coaches in the fiscal 2024-25.
Revised estimates for 2023-24 had pegged rolling stock capital expenditure at Rs 40,395.87 crore. The total capital expenditure for the Railways is budgeted at Rs 2.52 lakh crore for the current fiscal, up from 2.40 lakh crore in the fiscal 2023-24.
