The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, AUG 10, 2023
Aditya Birla Group flagship Hindalco Industries, and Texmaco Rail & Engineering on Thursday entered into a strategic alliance and announced a Rs 200 crore investment to develop and manufacture world-class aluminium rail wagons and coaches that will help Indian Railways achieve its emission goals and bolster operating efficiency, Hindalco said in a statement.
Indian Railways has launched “Mission 3000 MT” with a target of doubling freight capacity to reach 3,000 million tons by 2027 through augmentation of rolling stock, with the objective of achieving 45 per cent market share in freight. To meet this ambitious target, the Railways is actively seeking to improve wagon design, and inviting wagon manufacturers to contribute their own designs to enhance overall capacity and the life of railway assets.
Recognizing these developments in the Railways, Hindalco, which is the world’s largest aluminum rolling and recycling company, and Texmaco have joined hands to explore opportunities, where Hindalco will provide profiles, sheets and plates of its unique aluminium alloys, along with fabrication and welding expertise. The company’s in-house aluminium freight rake launched last year is 180 tons lighter and offers 19per cent higher payload to tare weight ratio, consumes less energy with relatively negligible wear and tear.
Texmaco, being an expert in manufacturing freight cars for 80 years, will bring in technical expertise and be responsible for design, setting up the factory, production line and providing skilled workers.
Commenting on the partnership, Hindalco Industries Managing Director Satish Pai said, “With launch of India’s first aluminium rake, we have demonstrated the benefits of higher payload and significant CO2 reduction that aluminium rakes offer. This partnership will further strengthen our role in enhancing the value proposition for the freight industry as well as for passenger mobility, while helping the Railways achieve its net zero objectives.”
Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd. Vice Chairman Indrajit Mookerjee said, “This valuable partnership will go a long way in creating innovative and sustainable products further reinforcing our commitment towards reducing the industry’s carbon footprint and driving a positive environmental impact.”
These substantial gains have encouraged Hindalco and Texmaco to go full throttle at pursuing an Atmanirbhar Bharat dream and help the Railways, which is in the throes of a massive upgradation in both basic infrastructures such as building gleaming new stations with modern amenities as well as state-of-the-art coaches and rapid expansion in the metro rail network.
“This partnership holds tremendous potential in supporting the Indian Railways in its pursuit of the introduction of efficient rolling stock with a lesser carbon footprint,” added Sudipta Mukherjee, Deputy Managing Director, Texmaco Rail & Engineering Ltd.
An indigenous facility that can make high-quality aluminium wagons, coaches, large containers, and components will greatly supplement the Central Government’s fast-paced development of dedicated freight corridors that aims to boost efficiency and reduce freight tariffs.
