Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge today flagged off the first dual cab 4500 HP freight diesel locomotive at Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) in Varanasi.
Named "Vijay", the high power diesel locomotive with AC facility is equipped with double cabins at both ends of the engine to enable the drivers a better range of view, speed and operation and it will be used in heavy haul freight operation.
Expressing happiness over the performance of the factory, Kharge said the DLW has always lived up to its promise.
"It is not only in the area of production that DLW is creating new milestones, it has also delivered in the area of technology upgradation and designing of new variants of locomotives," he said after launching the indigenously developed dual cab locomotive.
Currently, diesel locos with 4500 HP for freight trains are equipped with a single drive cabin at the front side of the engine.
Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said DLW has not only increased its production in large locomotives but also developed latest state-of-the-art technologies. "Building of this dual-cab high horse power freight locomotive is a major breakthrough not only for DLW but for Indian Railways and the country also," Kumar said.
Manufactured at an estimated cost of about Rs 14.7 crore, the safety aspect of the train operation has been enhanced due to its visibility advantage.
