The Asian Age: Mumbai: Monday, July 30, 2018.
A national high-speed train procured by the Mumbai
Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) in 2010 which failed during its trial run has
been rusting in the Western Railway (WR) car-shed ever since. The train was
expected to run at 130 kmph but could not match the speed. The MRVC had
procured 18 bogies from Siemens for the nine-coach train, which was
manufactured by the Indian Coach Factory (ICF) at Chennai. The MRVC has
recovered the bank guarantee and cash worth Rs 15 crore from Siemens.
The MRVC floated a tender to procure the 108
bogies from Siemens. In the first phase, the MRVC procured 18 bogies in 2010
and sent to ICF Chennai for manufacturing the high-peed train. The train was tested twice but did not match the
speed and specifications of the contract. The train is currently stationed in
the Virar car-shed.
According to an MRVC officer, “The trial was
conducted in 2012-13. Due to technical reasons, the train didn’t match the
speed prescribed in the contract, hence the contract of 108 bogies, including
18 bogies, worth Rs 60 crore has been terminated with Siemens.”
“The MRVC paid Rs 15 crore to Siemens for
procuring 18 bog-ies. In addition to this, equipment items of the train worth
Rs 4 crore that were required for commissioning the bogies, were given to
Siemens,” he said.
RTI activist Samir Zaveri, obtained this
information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. He claimed, “The railway
should put this train into service with normal speed instead of letting it
rust.”
When contacted, R.S. Khurana, chairman and
managing director of MRVC, said, “Whatever the payment was made to Siemens has
been recovered from the bank guarantee and payment made by Siemens.”
.JPG)
.JPG)
