Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Gujarat on 26 May, inaugurated the Loco Manufacturing Shop-Rolling Stock Workshop in Dahod and flagged off the first electric locomotive produced at the facility.
This milestone aligns with India’s infrastructure and industrial development goals, particularly under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
The government has invested ₹20,000 crore to establish the Dahod manufacturing unit.
Prime Minister Modi hailed the workshop as a ‘new chapter in India’s railway capability’ and praised its swift completion in under three years since laying the foundation stone in 2022.
Indian Railways has developed the facility under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, aiming to manufacture 1,200 electric locomotives over the next decade.
The workshop currently produces 120 locomotives annually, with plans to scale up to 150 units, positioning it as a major contributor to India’s rail freight operations.
Officials also plan to use these engines not just for domestic freight but for potential exports as well.
The electric locomotives produced at the Dahod facility each have a power output of 9,000 horsepower and are capable of hauling up to 4,600 tonnes of cargo.
In a first for Indian Railways, these engines feature air conditioning and toilets for drivers, significantly improving crew comfort.
To bolster safety, the locomotives are equipped with advanced cover systems designed to reduce the risk of accidents.
Currently, four units are under production at the site, all proudly labelled ‘Manufactured in Dahod’.
These locomotives will primarily operate on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and steeply graded rail routes.
Engineers have designed them to haul double-stack container freight trains weighing up to 4,500 tonnes at speeds of 75 km/h on gradients as steep as 1 in 200.
This technological leap will help increase the average speed of freight trains from the current 20–25 km/h to 50–60 km/h, significantly improving line capacity and throughput across the Indian Railways network.
PM Modi’s launch of the Dahod workshop is part of a broader push to position Gujarat as a hub for high-tech manufacturing and infrastructure.
The project will generate employment and strengthen the country’s logistics backbone, reinforcing India’s progress toward industrial self-reliance.
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