Railways cancels tender for 44 Vande Bharat trains after Chinese language agency emerged as contender
Indian Railways on Friday cancelled the tender for the manufacturing of 44 rakes of Practice 18, which has been re-christened as Vande Bharat Specific and stated a recent tender might be floated inside every week’s time specializing in Make in India. The Ministry of Railways in an announcement stated, “Tender for manufacturing of 44 units of semi excessive pace prepare set (Vande Bharat) has been cancelled.”
“Recent tender might be floated inside every week as per revised public procurement (Choice to Make in India) order,” it added.
Final month, when the tender was opened, a Chinese language three way partnership agency — CRRC Pioneer Electrical (India) Personal Restricted — had emerged as the one international participant among the many six contenders for the provision {of electrical} tools and different gadgets for the 44 prepare units of 16 coaches every.
The Chennai-based ICF has invited bids for procurement of electrical traction kits for Practice 18, the nation’s first self-propelled prepare with out locomotives. Practice 18 was manufactured by ICF, which is owned by the Indian Railways, with over 80 per cent indigenous supplies and was rolled out in October 2018 amidst a lot fanfare.
The prepare was later re-christened as Vande Bharat specific and was launched between New Delhi and Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, in February final 12 months. In October final 12 months, the second Vande Bharat Specific prepare was launched between New Delhi and Katra.
In November 2019, the railway board gave a go-ahead to ICF to renew manufacturing of the semi high-speed trains. Subsequently, the ICF had known as for bids for procuring electrical traction kits for 44 prepare units. Every set of trains has received 16 coaches.
In December final 12 months, Indian Railways had deliberate to finish the manufacturing of 44 extra new rakes on India’s 75th Independence day. All of the coaches of Vande Bharat Specific have a chrome steel automobile physique geared up with automated doorways with sliding footsteps, onboard computer systems for prepare management and distant monitoring.
The coaches even have a GPS-based audio-visual passenger info system, on-board hotspot WiFi and cozy seating preparations.
Earlier, when India and China have been concerned in a tense border stand-off alongside the Line of Precise Management (LAC) in Ladakh, the railways had scrapped a young for thermal cameras meant for “COVID-19 surveillance” after Indian corporations alleged that the tender specs favoured a Chinese language firm.
(With inputs from businesses)
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