PM Modi to flag off India’s first locomotive export project from Bihar

New Delhi: Furthering the ‘Make in India – Make for the World’ vision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday flag off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant in Bihar’s Saran district for export to the Republic of Guinea, according to a release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

This marks the first time a locomotive manufactured at the Marhowra facility will be exported, the release said. The locomotives are equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based control mechanisms, ergonomic cab designs, and feature technologies such as regenerative braking.

Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity (EDIP) at the Railway Board, told ANI that while the plant had previously produced locomotives solely for Indian Railways, India is now stepping into the global locomotive export market.

"Marhowrah Diesel Locomotive Plant is a dream project of the Indian Railway. Locomotives manufactured here were earlier being supplied within the Indian railways, and now with increased production, we have decided to export locomotives. We have received a big order from the Republic of Guinea, which requires standard gauge locomotives... 150 locomotives will be sent to the Republic of Guinea over the next three years for their iron ore mine," he said.

He added that standard gauge locomotives are in growing demand globally -- particularly in Western Europe, Africa, and Australia -- and the facility has been upgraded to produce both standard and broad gauge variants.

"We have modified this plant to manufacture standard gauge locomotives with broad gauge locomotives... Standard gauge locomotives are in high demand in countries of Western Europe, Africa, and Australia... Directly and indirectly, 2000-2500 people have been employed here," he added.

Sandeep, Managing Director of Wabtec India, said the locomotives are integral to Guinea’s Simandou Project -- one of the world’s largest iron ore mining ventures.

"The Simandou project is one of the largest iron ore mining projects in the world... Mining will be done in two critical mine divisions, and the iron ore will be shipped to a port 620 km away, which will be done via rail, and the iron ore will then be exported to various countries. These locomotives are an important rolling stock that will drive trains 24/7, and we hope that it is a successful project... The locomotives manufactured at this facility have a strength of 4500 horsepower. Two locomotives will be attached to every train to pull a trailing load of 8100 tonnes... We are exporting standard gauge locomotives, while Indian railways uses broad gauge locomotives... The project was allotted in 2015, with Wabtec having an equity of 75% and the Indian railway having an equity of 25%... In 7 years of our operation, we have supplied 726 locomotives... 150 locomotives will be sent to Guinea over the next three years... More than 1500 people have been empowered via this project, and 99% of the manpower is from Bihar." he said.

He noted that the project was awarded in 2015, with Wabtec holding a 75% equity stake and Indian Railways holding 25%. Since operations began, 726 locomotives have been delivered to Indian Railways, and now 150 will be exported to Guinea.

"Over 99 per cent of the workforce here is from Bihar, and more than 1,500 people have been empowered through this project," he added.

PM Modi's two-day visit to Bihar and Odisha

PM Modi will begin a two-day visit to Bihar and Odisha on Friday. Starting in Bihar’s Siwan, he will inaugurate the Vaishali-Deoria railway line project worth over ₹400 crore and flag off a new train service on this route. The Prime Minister will also flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur, via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah.

Further underscoring his commitment to the conservation and rejuvenation of the river Ganga, PM Modi will inaugurate six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange mission, with projects valued at over ₹1,800 crore.

Additionally, he will lay the foundation stone for water supply, sanitation, and STP projects worth more than ₹3,000 crore across towns in Bihar.

In a major boost to regional power infrastructure, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity in Bihar.