Title - Replacement of freight wagons on course: Kharge

Union Railway Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge said that the replacement of the railway freight wagons with fourth-generation wagons, which boast additional carrying capacity and a longer lifespan, was going as per schedule.Speaking at a presentation on the replacement process at the Vasavadatta Cement Guest House here on Sunday, Mr. Kharge said that the new wagons, with a single sliding door and high-security locking system, would replace the old double-door wagons.Mr. Kharge said that another 12,722 fourth generation wagons would be required across India.

Advantages

The new wagons presented a sleek look with increased height and shorter length. The carrying capacity of the new wagons is 70.8 tonnes, as compared to the old wagons which could carry 64 to 66 tonnes. The lifespan of the older wagons is 25 years, while that of the fourth-generation wagons is 30 years.

Officials of the South Central Railway told the Minister that 3,306 new wagons have replaced the second and third generation versions. Another 1,396 wagons were needed to finish the job.

Mr. Kharge wanted to know why there was a shortage of wagons, particularly during the harvest season, in States such as Punjab and Haryana, and why officials were not introducing the required number of wagons. Railway officials told the Minister that there was no proposal before the ministry to introduce new wagons. These wagons would only be needed during the times of harvest, and the rest of the time these wagons would be sitting idle, causing losses to the railways.

However, the railways is according top priority to the movement of foodgrains during harvest season.

Later, the Minister held a closed-door meeting with officials of the Railway Department and the Vasavadatta Cement Factory.