Banaras Locomotive Works, earlier known as Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) rolled out its highest ever monthly number of locomotives.
The achievement was marked by the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, Vinod Kumar Yadav, flagging off the 40th locomotive via video conferencing.
BLW’s previous record was for manufacturing of 31 locomotives, achieved in July 2020.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Railways, BLW has equalled the production of electric locomotives on YoY basis till and including November 2020. 168 electric locomotives were produced in the same period last year as against 169 units this year.
This is despite production disruptions as a result of the national lockdown in April and May 2020, resulting in only eight units being produced in two months.
CRB V K Yadav congratulated the staff of BLW for making such high output possible despite COVID-19 challenges. He further added that General Manager, BLW has been instrumental in bringing transformation. There has been an improvement in technology in locos and that Indian Railways need to step ahead and aim for 9,000 HP locos.
BLW’s switch to production of only electric locomotives is in line with Ministry of Railways’ multi-pronged strategy. The Ministry is going all out towards lowering fossil fuel bills, reducing carbon footprint, reducing dependence on import of fuel and enhancing average speed and hauling capacity of trains.
However, BLW continues to produce diesel locos for exports. The production unit has fast tracked work on 3,000 HP cape gauge diesel locomotives for Mozambique.
It is reported that the conversion is stopped as it is not successful ?