The Hindu Business Line : Railways plan for special wagons

A leading private sector steel producer has urged Indian Railways to arrange for special wagons to facilitate transportation of cold rolled products. The way the products are being handled and transported by rail leaves much to be desired. On many occasions during transportation the products were damaged and this was not acceptable to users, who are automobile companies and producers of white goods. This is proving too much for the steel producer. While the Railways is bel ieved to be well-disposed towards the idea, it is not clear how the procurement will take place. Outright import of these specialised wagons appears to be a remote possibility. The only alternative left will be to get the drawings of these wagons from reputed overseas manufacturers and have the wagons manufactured locally. Will the local wagon manufacturers be interested in producing such specialised wagons? Why not, if the orders are adequate? There will be no dearth of orders, it is felt. Most major steel companies are now going in for production of more of cold rolled products. As sources close to a major steel producer pointed out, the company immediately needs at least five to six such rakes, each containing 45 wagons.

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