New Delhi, Jan 27 (KNN) The Ministry of Railways have received bids from three giant firms SAIL, Bharat Forge and Ramkrishna Forgings in partnership with Titagarh for manufacturing 80,000 forged wheels annually for semi-high speed and modern trains.

With this the department intends to reduce India’s import dependence on countries such as China and European nations.

Forged wheels are specially-designed wheels, built at high-pressure for trains running at higher speeds than regular Indian Railways trains.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Railway Minister in September 2022 had announced floating of a tender inviting only Indian players to set up a manufacturing facility to produce these wheels.

Three bidders have submitted their tenders and these are being examined and the successful bidder will set up a production unit for forged wheels at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore.

The railways has given assurance to buy a certain quantity of the wheels manufactured by the successful entity and the manufacturer will be allowed to export its production as well after catering the demand of Indian Railways.  (KNN Bureau)