VARANASI (Metro Rail News): According to a report, The Railway Ministry has directed the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Modern Coach Factory (MCF), Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, to cancel all ongoing tender processes for the making of the flagship Vande Bharat Express rakes.
The report suggests that the decision was made after a high-level meeting of Railways officials and leading manufacturers of propulsion systems. The reports add the purpose of the meeting was to get “the right technology with wide participation, transparently”. Money control could not independently verify the report.
In February Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Vande Bharat Express, which was earlier called Train 18 from Varanasi, UP.
A controversy was sparked over allegations that a private company was favored in the manufacturing process of the Rs 97-crore rake.
The ICF has been accused of several deviations from specifications laid down by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
However, the report cites top engineers involved in manufacturing the train in record time, as saying that materials that were readily available had been purchased without making any compromise on safety. Vande Bharat Express is currently operational.
A senior Railway official told that the Railways Board has directed ICF, Chennai, and MCF, Rae Bareli, to cancel all tenders not only pertaining to Vande Bharat Express type of rakes but also suburban trains such as Electric Multiple Units (EMU), Diesel Electric Multiple Units (DEMU) and Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMU). The objective is to offer a level playing field for all suppliers to participate in the making of these trains with the highest level of quality.”
