Vinod Bhat
The Indian National Congress, in a press conference held on 23rd June 2025, made several misleading allegations against Indian Railways regarding the production of 9000 Horse Power electric locomotives at the Dahod factory in Gujarat. The concerns were related to the bidding process conducted in 2022. Indian Railways has strongly denied these allegations, terming them “baseless.”
In an official statement, the Railway Board clarified that both Siemens and Alstom, globally renowned manufacturers capable of producing 9000 HP electric locomotives, had participated in the 2022 tender process. Both firms were found technically qualified, but Siemens emerged as the lowest bidder with a highly competitive price, and hence was awarded the contract.
The evaluation was carried out by a team of technical and financial experts, following transparent procedures that Indian Railways has always adhered to. The price discovery was conducted transparently and strictly according to the terms of the tender. No changes were made to the tender conditions.
The Railway Board emphasized that there was no conflict of interest, and all decisions were taken by empowered Railway Board members and zonal units. Since 2016, the role of the Railway Minister in approving tenders has been discontinued to ensure neutrality and institutional transparency.
The agreement is also based on guaranteed reliability, aligned with Indian Railways’ focus on life-cycle cost-based procurement, aimed at enhancing passenger safety and long-term value.
Significantly, over 89% of the components used in Dahod locomotives are being manufactured in India, reflecting the growing strength of the domestic railway manufacturing ecosystem. Assembling a 9000 HP locomotive involves highly complex parts, many of which are now being produced at different locations across India—showcasing the success of the ‘Make in India’ vision.
These locomotives will be maintained at four depots: Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Kharagpur, and Pune, ensuring long-term upkeep and reliability of this next-generation fleet.
