Rail Budget: Wagon, coach makers sense new business

KOLKATA: At a time when railways minister Dinesh Trivedi has been at the receiving end from political parties for increasing fares, manufacturers of wagons, coach and rail components have thrown their weight behind his proposals in the Railway Budget and said it would lead the railways to a higher level.
Umesh Chowdhary, VC & MD, Titagarh Wagons, said the upgradation of track, signalling bridges, rolling stock, etc, are steps towards that direction.“One very positive aspect of the budget is the announcement of the logistics corporation to use and develop railway yards as freight terminals,” he said. The operating ratio target of 74-75% is a positive initiative, he added.
“The National Policy on Railways is needed to provide 10% of total infrastructure spend on railways,” said Ramesh Maheshwari, executive VC of Texmaco Rail & Engineering. He said the budget has focused on accelerated development of double-decker flat container wagons, autocars, and new-design 25T axle load freight cars. The increase in planned investments as against investments in the previous years, which will mean increased business opportunities for infrastructure companies, was highlighted as one of the positives by Sanjay Chandra, chief executive (railways), KEC International
Ruia Group chairman P K Ruia, which owns Jessop, said the minister has indeed presented a vision in his budget. “But I wish he had elaborated on the target and policies on purchase of coaches and wagons,” he added.
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