RailEnquiry

New Delhi: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is likely to lay the foundation stone for the modern rail coach factory in Bhilwara on September 22. The setting up of the Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) coach factory in Bhilwara, constituency of former Railway Minister C P Joshi, was announced in this year’s Rail Budget. Sources in Railways said Gandhi is likely to lay the foundation stone. Rajasthan government is providing about 800 acres of land for the factory. While Railways has signed a MoU with state-owned BHEL for setting up the factory to cater to the growing demand for more local and suburban trains, another MoU will be signed with Rajasthan government for acquiring land. The Rs 1000-crore factory is to manufacture about 400 coaches annually. MEMU trains equipped with higher acceleration capacity are expected to move faster on electrified tracks and would benefit daily commuters. They are required for faster connectivity with suburban areas. Each MEMU train with nine coaches can carry 1,800 passengers. BHEL is already into manufacturing of diesel and electric locomotives at its plant in Jhansi and has an annual capacity to make around 50 engines.