Rs 500-cr investment in new machinery, plant in Rail Wheel Factory

Indian Railways is expanding the network capacity by introduction of Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) on Eastern and Western sector of the country linking Gujarat/ West Bengal to Punjab hinterland which will require high axle load freight stock using higher capacity axles (25 tonne). Indian Railways (IR) is also upgrading its passenger train sector by introducing semi high speed trains on LHB Coaching stock for speeds up to 180 km. per hour (Maximum). Rail wheel Factory (RWF) has already geared up to manufacture high capacity load 25T axles for freight stock and LHB semi finished axles for coaching stock. In order to augment its capacity further, a new forging line is already on order which will go on production prototyping by 20212022 which will include the latest higher capacity forge box, hot axles roller conveyor equipment including PNG (Piped Natured Gas) fired furnaces which will be installed at an investment of Rs.300 crores. This will enhance the forging capacity to 100,000 forgings per annum from the present 66,000 nos. per annum.