భారతదేశంలో చలనశీలతను ఉన్నత కక్ష్యకు తీసుకెళ్లడానికి మేము కట్టుబడి ఉన్నాము-అలైన్ స్పోర్, ఎండి, ఆల్స్టోమ్ ట్రాన్స్పోర్ట్ ఇండియా

మిస్టర్ అలైన్ స్పోర్ 1 సెప్టెంబర్ 2017న ఆల్స్టోమ్ ట్రాన్స్పోర్ట్ ఇండియాలో భారతదేశానికి మరియు భారతదేశంలోని బెంగళూరు కేంద్రంగా ఉన్న దక్షిణ ఆసియా క్లస్టర్కు మేనేజింగ్ డైరెక్టర్గా చేరారు. ఆల్స్టోమ్ ఇండియా మరియు దక్షిణ ఆసియా మేనేజింగ్ డైరెక్టర్గా, మిస్టర్ అలైన్ స్పోర్ దేశంలో ఆల్స్టోమ్ అడుగుజాడలను విస్తరించడానికి మరియు కొనసాగుతున్న ప్రాజెక్టులకు ఆప్టిమైజ్ డెలివరీని నిర్ధారించడానికి బాధ్యత వహిస్తున్నారు. మిస్టర్ స్పోహర్ తనతో పాటు 35 సంవత్సరాల అనుభవాన్ని తీసుకువస్తాడు మరియు 1982 నుండి ఫ్రాన్స్లోని ఆల్స్టోమ్ గ్రూపుతో అనుబంధం కలిగి ఉన్నాడు. అప్పటి నుండి ఆయన వివిధ వ్యాపార నిలువు వరుసలు మరియు అభ్యాసాలకు నాయకత్వం వహిస్తూ అనేక పదవులను నిర్వహించారు.

In his last role, Mr. Spohr was the MD & CEO of the GE/Bharat Forge Joint Venture and the India Country Leader for Steam Power Systems at GE Power.  Under his leadership, the company executed a $150 million turbine project within stipulated time and budgets and scaled up its knowledge center in the areas of project management, engineering, construction and commissioning. Mr. Spohr’s strong exposure in Industrial and factory operations helped guide GE through rapid localization, cost reductions and clearing backlogs leading the company to secure unprecedented and significant market share.Mr. Spohr’s rich career in India spans over 14 years which not only gives him a keen understanding on the country’s business environment but also its culture and growth trajectory. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from France.In an interview with Metro Rail News, he categorically replied on various questions about business strategy and expansion plan of Alstom Transportation India. Here are our communication excerpts:

• ప్రారంభంలో లక్నో మెట్రో రైల్ కార్పొరేషన్ (ఎల్ఎంఆర్సి) కు 15 మెట్రో రైలు సెట్లను విజయవంతంగా పంపిణీ చేసినందుకు మా హృదయపూర్వక అభినందనలు అంగీకరించండి. మరో రైలు సెట్లు ఎప్పుడు డెలివరీ అవుతాయని భావిస్తున్నారు?

Thank you. We are committed to take mobility in India to a higher orbit. Delivering 15 metro trains to Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) is an important milestone in Alstom’s journey and we are committed to delivering the next set of trains within the stipulated timelines.

• ఏదైనా తదుపరి ప్రశ్నను ప్రారంభించే ముందు, మేము మీ కంపెనీ దృష్టి, లక్ష్యం మరియు పని సంస్కృతి గురించి తెలుసుకోవాలనుకుంటున్నాము.

To become our customers’ preferred partner for transport solutions by 2020 is the global vision of the company. To achieve this vision, Alstom's commitment is to deliver top quality solutions that are tailored to meet customers’ expectations.This means that all our actions involve adopting clear priorities, increase our speed of execution that differentiates us from our competitors, and become able to report the achievement of our business objectives. This drives our work culture with compassion.

• ఆల్స్టోమ్ తో మీ పని అనుభవం ఏమిటి?

In the 36 years that I’ve been a part of this company, a major chunk of it in India, in various Country Business Leadership functions involving project management, engineering, and industrial operations. With Alstom, my role is not just to nurture and build the business here in India and South Asia, but also to take mobility in India to the next level. To be such a crucial part of people’s lives and to get technology to improve the way we move around is a stupendous, most fulfilling challenge. There’s much to do, much to learn.

• ఆల్స్టోమ్ ఇండియా వ్యూహం ఏమిటి?

So far, in India, Alstom is known for the metro projects in Kochi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Chennai. It entered in the Indian market decades ago with its LHB technology for coaches for the premium Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains. In the mainline network, Alstom’s Signaling & Power Supply Systems are a part of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.The company’s footprint is further strengthened with the new fully-electric locomotive factory in Madhepura in Bihar which is the largest FDI that Indian Railways has ever entered. The high horse power locomotives manufactured there will be the most advanced in the Indian railways fleet. We are proud to be associated with the Indian Railways for this project.We are keen to forge several partnerships like these to upgrade the mobility infrastructure of the country. Besides, there are several projects and initiatives by the Ministry of Rail focusing on signaling upgradation, upgradation of rolling stock and electrification which are likely to have a positive impact for Alstom.We want our mobility solutions to be considered as the benchmark technically, economically and environmentally for mobility in the country. Combined with this is our strategy to make India our manufacturing hub for international markets, having successfully delivered export projects out of SriCity this year.In line with our growth and investment plans, we have chalked out our recruitment plan for India too. We are building a talent pool that can cater to the dynamic needs of the industry in an efficient and responsible manner.

• భారతదేశ తయారీ కేంద్రాన్ని అంతర్జాతీయ మార్కెట్కు తీసుకురావాలని ఆల్స్టోమ్ లక్ష్యంగా పెట్టుకుంది.

It is already happening. Sri City, near Chennai, is our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that manufactures and supplies rolling stock for the current metro projects running in the country. From here, expansion across current metro systems will continue to be strong drivers for Alstom’s business in India. Our aim is to make Sri City, Alstom’s export hub, and our Bengaluru center the innovation hub for mobility solutions.

• ఆల్స్టోమ్ భారతదేశంలో తయారు చేయడానికి బాగా సమలేఖనం చేయబడింది. దాని అమరిక 'మేక్ ఇన్ ఇండియా' ప్రాజెక్టుకు నిజంగా ప్రయోజనకరంగా ఉందా?

Make-In-India has been a strong propeller of growth in the manufacturing space. It has encouraged companies to manufacture their products within the country and increase the amount of investment in the country.Alstom has been a strong proponent of this initiative and our solid localized footprint in the country is a testimony of this policy.Our Kochi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Lucknow metro projects were all executed out of our Sri City plant and our engineering Centre in Bengaluru. The Kochi Metro project was in fact the first example of a 100% Made in India metro project where we executed end-to-end solutions ahead of schedule - power, tracks, signaling, rolling stock at all.[caption id="attachment_14044" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Alstom delivered 15th train set to Lucknow Metro from Sri City plant (Photo: ALSTOM India)[/caption]Our Madhepura project is yet another exemplary endorsement of the Make-In-India initiative, not just because of the manufacturing and localisation component but the level of social upliftment that project has brought to the region. Around 90% of the components used in the manufacturing of the locomotives are locally manufactured and Alstom is setting up an infrastructure base in Madhepura to invite our supply chain partners to set up their manufacturing units around the e-loco plant to optimize production and supply processes.‘Make in India’ has renewed our commitment to make long-term investments in India and strengthen plans and delivery on ground. It is really good for business.

• భారతీయ రైల్వేలో ఆల్స్టోమ్ ఎలా కీలక పాత్ర పోషించింది?

We have been a part of India’s mobility journey for over five decades, and we hope to continue in the same track.Alstom believes in working closely with the Government to contribute towards nation-building. Our manufacturing unit in Madhepura in partnership with the Indian Railways is the largest FDI in Indian Railways, to build 800 state-of-the-art fully electric locomotives. The speed, power and efficiency of these newly built locomotives will redefine the heavy freight transportation in the country.[caption id="attachment_13340" align="alignnone" width="669"] Make in India Electric Locomotive by Alstom from Madhepura Facility[/caption]This contract requires two maintenance depots in the country – one in Saharanpur and the other in Nagpur. The modern depot at Saharanpur is ready and about to commence operations. The depot will help in the upkeep of locomotives with predictive maintenance technology. It will also act as a training center for loco pilots and contribute towards skilling India.Our work on Dedicated Freight Corridor, is another project we are proud to be associated with. This corridor will decrease traffic in the mainline network and increase speed and efficiency of freight movement.With such a comprehensive array of partnerships to improve the rail infrastructure of the country, with a billion plus population, the work is far from over. We take pride in our work done so far and simultaneously acknowledge the challenges that lays ahead of us.

• ఆల్స్టోమ్ 'మేక్ ఇన్ ఇండియా' ప్రాజెక్ట్ కింద కొచ్చి మెట్రోని విజయవంతంగా రూపొందించింది, ఇది 'మేక్ ఇన్ ఇండియా' ప్రోగ్రాం కింద మొదటి ప్రాజెక్ట్. ఈ ప్రాజెక్టుతో మీ అనుభవాన్ని పంచుకోండి.

Alstom-built metros for Kochi are the first to have been entirely designed in Bengaluru and manufactured at Sri City supporting the Government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated the project. It reinforced our vision to become the preferred partner of cities, countries and operators and provide our advanced mobility solutions. Alstom scored a lot of industry-firsts with the Kochi Metro Project.[caption id="attachment_14123" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Kochi Metro Rail[/caption]It was the first Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC)-based metro to be commissioned in India. CBTC controls the movement of trains precisely, allowing more trains to run on the line at higher speeds in total safety. Our goal was to deliver an innovative and effective mobility solution for the people of Kochi.

• ఆల్స్టోమ్ భారతదేశంలో చాలా పెట్టుబడులు పెడుతుండగా, ఇతర ఎంఎన్సి కంపెనీలు పెట్టుబడి పెట్టడానికి ధైర్యం చేస్తున్నాయి. ఇంత పెద్ద పెట్టుబడికి భారతదేశంలో మిమ్మల్ని ఆకర్షించేది ఏమిటి?

Any business venture should make commercial sense. When we consider investing in a country we evaluate market potential, availability of talent and government support. India’s market potential is high because the country requires rapid modernisation, adoption of newer, safer and more sustainable technology, due to quick urbanisation.

పెద్ద నిర్మాణాత్మక మార్పులకు స్థిరమైన మద్దతు అవసరం. మెట్రో రైల్ న్యూస్ ప్రచురణ ఇంజనీర్లు, అధికారులు మరియు ఈ డైనమిక్ పరిశ్రమతో సంబంధం ఉన్న వ్యక్తుల ఆశావాదం మరియు ఉత్సాహాన్ని కొనసాగించడానికి సహాయపడుతుంది.

Geographically, India is strategically located that also helps us to assuredly deliver projects across Asia, Middle East and even beyond. We also have been able to tap into the large, skilled talent pool available in the country - bright, young minds that are helping us develop sustainable solutions for projects worldwide. We employ close to 3,600 people in India which makes it our biggest centre of operations after France.With the Government’s Make in India and Skill India initiatives, we find our business goal completely aligned with the country’s vision. I do not know about other companies but conducting business in India and from India makes sense for us.

• మెట్రో రైల్ న్యూస్ పోర్టల్లో రోజువారీ వార్తల నవీకరణలను ప్రచురించడంతో పాటు, భారతదేశంలో పట్టణ రవాణాలో క్రానికల్ డెవలప్మెంట్ను కవర్ చేసే మా మంత్లీ మ్యాగజైన్. వారి ప్రాజెక్ట్ అభివృద్ధిని ప్రాచుర్యం పొందడానికి దేశవ్యాప్తంగా ఉన్న రైల్వే పరిశ్రమలతో మేము ఎలా భాగస్వామ్యం చేయగలమని మీరు అనుకుంటున్నారు?

Large structural changes need constant support. Your publication can help maintain the optimism and enthusiasm of engineers, officials and people associated with this dynamic industry.

మరిన్ని వివరాల కోసం, దయచేసి మెట్రో రైల్ న్యూస్ (మంత్లీ) పత్రికను చదవండి.