Tiruchirappalli, Feb 2 (KNN) Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), eyeing opportunities in railways sector for diversification, are optimistic about the recently tabled interim Union budget in Parliament.

The proposal to upgrade 40,000 normal rail bogies to Vande Bharat standards has sparked hope among local MSMEs, reported TOI.

They are urging authorities to allocate a portion of the work orders for this conversion exclusively to the MSME sector, utilising the Golden Rock railway workshop in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

N Kanagasabapathy, Chairman of Trichy Trade Centre, emphasised the need for orders to encourage more MSMEs to venture into producing components for rail bogies. “As we have expertise in engineering and fabrication besides welding technologies, upgrading rail bogies will be a boon for MSMEs in Trichy,” he said.

Trade bodies in the region are seeking financial assistance to upgrade machinery in production units, aiming to support MSMEs in manufacturing rail bogie components. Entrepreneurs, looking to stay resilient and broaden their focus in the defence and railway sectors, have expressed the importance of a rehabilitation package from the Union government to facilitate loan repayment.

The MSMEs stress the necessity of a common assembly line infrastructure for overhauling bogies in Trichy.

The Trichy District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (TIDITSSIA) echoed similar sentiments, emphasising that fund allocation for railway infrastructure would not only spur industrial growth but also generate employment opportunities.

(KNN Bureau)