Indian Railways has shortlisted three consortia for a PPP contract to build an electric multiple-unit factory.

INDIA: Three consortia have been shortlisted by Indian Railways for a public-private partnership contract to build a factory to supply around 5 000 electric multiple-unit cars over 12 years and to maintain them for 13 years.

According to local reports, the shortlisted bidders are:

  • CRRC with Alstom;
  • Siemens with Bombardier;
  • Stadler Bussnang with Medha Servo Drives.

Final bids are due to be opened in December. The government would own a 26% stake in the joint venture, which would produce the steel-bodied EMUs at a factory which would be built at Kanchrapara near Kolkata in West Bengal under the national Make in India programme.

The procurement of modern multiple-units follows similar deals announced in November 2015 which will see GE Transportation and Alstom supply and maintain diesel and electric locomotives.