The Diesal Locomotive Works (DLW) at Varanasi which manufactures broad gauge engines was not in a position to fulfill increasing demand for locomotives in the country. Moreover, it accepts orders from non-railway customers like SAIL, NTPC etc.

Having learnt the capacity of Parel workshop, the DLW was confident that it could also build BG Diesel locomotives. After successful results, this workshop was permitted to manufacture goods engines too.

When contacted, BL Patil, chief works manager, Parel workshop, said, “This idea was conceptualised in July 2006. Staff at the Parel workshop were trained in assembling of BG locos and various logistics like drawing of list of material required, transportation, storage, testing of locos etc in the DLW. The ground work on manufacturing the locomotives on the shop floor started in August, 2006. The first locomotive was flagged off on December 12, 2006.”

“Till now, 23 locos have been manufactured in the Parel workshop. Out of 23, 8 engines were dispatched to the Indian Railways and 15 were sold to private companies,” said Patil. MT Nainan, assistant works manager, in-charge of manufacturing section of locos, said, “This year’s target is to manufacture 50 locos and seven locos have already been manufactured. Two locos will be dispatched to the SAIL this month.”

Commending the Parel workshop, Rajkamal Rao, member, Railway Board, wrote a letter to Central Railway General Manager S Raghwan last week. In the letter, Rao said, “Manufacturing the locos and selling them to private parties are good initiatives. This move is proved to be a boon for the Railways which would be able to earn crores of rupees a year.”