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Canadian multinational Bombardier, whose product portfolio ranges from commercial planes to trains and metro coaches, wants to expand its footprint in the Indian market. According to the company’s Chief Country Representative Harsh Dhingra, Bombardier is gearing up to leverage the Make in India programme. Its two factories at Savli and Maneja in Gujarat are set for brownfield expansion.
To meet upcoming orders, the company has increased its staff strength from around 850 employees in 2014 to more than 1,300 in 2015, with a target to reach around 2,200 in 2016, Dhingra told BusinessLine over the phone.
Its $100-million investment may be ramped up further if the Railway and Urban Development ministries expedite orders under Make in India, he said.
The company operates here through its subsidiary Bombardier Transportation India. Dhingra said local units are assisting Bombardier in manufacturing 65-70 per cent of the rolling stock.
If the Centre manages to convert even about 80 per cent of the opportunities in the transport sector into orders, it would be a major push for manufacturing in the country, he observed.
Bombardier has been present in India for 18 years. It has provided technology for electric locomotives and signalling systems for the Railways.
It also produces complete metro coaches for the domestic market, and recently received an export order for 450 metro coaches to Australia.
Substantial orders Dhingra said the Railways’ infrastructure expansions plans add up to ₹8.5 lakh crore, of which Bombardier is looking at substantial orders for rolling stock.
It is also keenly looking at a proposed ₹1,200-crore rail coach factory at Kanchrapara in West Bengal.
The company is also watching for orders from tier 1 and 2 cities for light metro rails. Tenders for about 4,000 metro coaches are expected to be placed in three-five years from these cities, he said.
Dhingra added that the Railway Ministry is also working on an electro-diesel locomotive engine, and Bombardier has been assisting the Ministry in this.
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