Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has embarked on a major diversification programme by entering into an agreement with Indian Railways for building the country's first indigenous AC (alternate current) locomotives and EMUs.
BHEL's Bangalore-based electronics division has joined hands with Chittaranjan Locomotives Ltd and the Chennai-based Integrated Coach Factory (ICF) to launch the country's first AC EMU and locomotive.
While the prototype of the first `AC loco' is currently doing field trials at Chittaranjan, the prototype of `AC EMU' is expected to be ready at ICF's workshop in Chennai soon.
More From This Section
High level sources in BHEL said that the company is now awaiting the results of the field trails after which it expects to bag substantial order from the railways
The Department of Electronics (DoE) has also taken part in the project using the indigenous technology development fund scheme.
The development of this technology in India is expected to end the frequent and expensive import of AC locomotives and EMUs by the railway ministry Frequent braking by suburban EMUs have also led to the railways being loaded with hefty power bills.
While this was a major diversification for BHEL, indigenous construction of AC run locos and EMUs is expected to save considerable energy and maintenance cost for the railways.
According to company sources, the company has built the complete electronics system and motor for building a three-phase, 6000 BHP AC locomotive in India, under a `vendor development agreement' with the railways.
Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), which had entered into an agreement with the railways long ago for supplying AC locos and EMUs, had agreed to extend technical assistance to railways' vendors .
Under the agreement, Indian Railways was free to transfer this technology to its vendors after a period of ten years.
BHEL was the first to be appointed by the railways for executing the project
BHEL sources said, Based on ABB's technology, we've successfully developed the electrical systems for AC locos and EMUs using our specifications Chittaranjan Loco Workshop has already built the first prototype.
Railways is currently awaiting the completion of the body-building for AC EMU by ICF in Chennai before accepting the models.
Locos which run on three-phase AC system require much less maintenance and spend less power than the energy-guzzler DC locos and EMUs
The technology allows conversion of AC into DC (direct current), which, in turn, is converted into three-phase AC by using a 25 KVA AC convertor.
BHEL's Bangalore division posted a turnover of Rs 463 crore during 1996-97 registering a growth of 21 per cent over the previous year.
Its profit-before-tax has risen to Rs 96 crore from Rs 82 crore in 95-96.
The unit also had exports worth Rs 100 crore during