India gets first diesel loco from GE, work on Bihar factory on track

NEW DELHI: The first diesel-electric locomotive built by US conglomerate General Electric as part of a $2.5 billion deal to supply 1,000 such engines to the Indian Railways has arrived in India. The project, a joint venture between the Indian Railways and GE to supply and maintain modern diesel electric locomotives of 4,500 HP and 6,000 HP to the public transporter, was announced in November 2015. GE clarified that the work on a diesel locomotive factory in Bihar's Marhowrah is on track, days after Railway Minister Piyush Goyal ruled out any changes in the deal. But with government's thrust on electrification of tracks to combat pollution, there was a buzz, and some media reports that it could exit the contract.