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The largest railway coach manufacturer in India, BEML Ltd, is pushing for indigenisation of at least six rakes of bullet train coaches (60 coaches) in collaboration with its Japanese partner Hitachi. BEML Chairman and Managing Director D K Hota told PTI, “We have submitted our request for indigenisation of six bullet rakes.”
Hota also added, “We want more volume in the indigenisation process, which will be a win-win for the country and make our investments viable in the bullet train project.”
However, as per Hitachi’s indication during the joint negotiation meetings, the indigenisation of not more than one bullet train rake is feasible, if the targeted deadline of 2023 for the project has to be met.
It has been reported that Hitachi and Kawasaki, the two Japanese companies, will bid to become the main contractor in the Japan government-assisted Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.
As per the reports, the $15-billion project which contemplates 24 rakes or 240 coaches would run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. BEML is expected to be tasked with the entire interior work, which is termed as ‘level three indigenisation’.
