Higher indigenisation prescribed for metro trains

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) To give a push to the Make in India programme, the Union Urban Development Ministry has made it mandatory for all metro companies to buy 75 percent of all metro cars domestically, an official statement said on Sunday

The new mandatory 'Tender Conditions and Standardised Norms', focusing on procuring from Indian firms, have been circulated to all metro companies to be implemented immediately.

The metro companies have been told that if the procurement is of more than 100 cars, 75 percent of all tendered quantity of metro cars should be manufactured indigenously with progressive indigenisation of content, for which the contractor may either establish independent manufacturing facility in India or partner with Indian manufacturers.

To facilitate ease in maintenance through easy availability of spares beyond the warranty period, an identified list of critical equipment and sub-systems will be included in the Tender Document for ensuring indigenous manufacturing of a minimum of 25 percent of such equipment, either by Original Equipment Manufacturers themselves by establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary in India or through Indian manufacturers.

Requirement of metro cars at state level will be clubbed to enable applicability of local procurement norms and to develop in-house expertise on long term basis, metro companies with large size fleet will undertake in-house maintenance.

A total number of 1,912 metro coaches are currently operational in the country with another 1,420 under procurement. Over the next three years more than 1,600 metro cars would be required. Each metro coach is estimated to cost about Rs 10 crore.

To further promote indigenous manufacturing, the Ministry has stipulated procurement of nine types of signalling equipment from within the country. Metro companies have also been directed to develop maximum possible local competence so that know how and technical support is available within the country. Indian companies have to be associated with production of a wide range of signaling and train control project equipment.

Indigenisation has also been prescribed for communication systems, managing operational disturbances, time table preparation, fault reporting, control traction power, maintenance, infrastructure supervision, and rolling stock management.

Presently, metros are operating in the cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Jaipur, Gurgaon, Bengaluru and Chennai with a total route length of 326 kms. Metro projects with a total route length of 546 kms are under construction in 11 cities and projects with a total route length of 903 kms in 13 cities are under consideration.

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