Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in this metro will spend Rs 250 crore for manufacturing technologically upgraded coaches of stainless steel shells and high-speed bogies.
The money, sanctioned by the government, will also be utilised to increase the annual production capacity by 200 coaches, according to a senior official from the factory that employs about 13,000 people.
ICF general manager Abhay K Khanna said the factory has produced 44,190 coaches and 46,111 shells since its inception in 1952 (it started business three years later) and commands 43 per of the total coaching stock running on Indian Railways system.
Last year, ICF turned out 1,503 coaches, its highest. The current year’s target is 1,510 coaches and 16 shells.
“We have got sanction of Rs 250 crore to manufacture technologically upgraded coaches of stainless steel shells and high-speed bogies,” Khanna told a gathering after unfurling the National Flag on the eve of the 63rd Republic Day celebrations at the factory. “We will increase our capacity to 1,700 coaches from 1,500 coaches.”
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Production of special coaches such as air-conditioned coaches for Kolkata Metro and stainless steel DEMUs for export are the highlights of last year, he added.
ICF continues to produce power from windmills installed in Radhapuram in down-state Tirunelveli district, Khanna said. The windmills have cumulatively generated 5.91 crore units of electricity till December 2011. In 2010-11, ICF met 80 per cent of our total electricity energy requirements from this green energy and 100 per cent of factory’s energy requirements.
“We are now planning to add windmills of 7.5 mega watt capacity, so as to meet the energy requirements for our future expansion as well,” he added.
