The Rail Coach Factory (RCF) sanctioned for Yadgir has raised the hopes of an industrial development in the district.
Yadgir, carved out of Gulbarga district four years ago, does not have a big industry.
With a textile park expected to be set up for which the process of land acquisition is in progress, the proposed RCF is coming up as a second big industry in the district, if the plan of the Railway Ministry takes a concrete shape. The RCF, which will be established at an estimated cost of Rs 750 crore, has been earmarked Rs 75 crore in the Supplementary Railway Budget during the winter session of the Parliament. The factory is expected to produce about 300 Linke Holfmann Busch (LHB) coaches per year for high-speed and premium trains. LHB coaches are originally developed by Germany’s Linke-Hofmann-Busch, which has been taken over by Alstom.
The Yadgir RCF will produce these coaches. LHB coaches are presently manufactured at Rae Bareli and Kapurthala.
According to sources, the Railways has written to the state government to identify land for this purpose. In the letter, the government has been told to identify 150 acres of land near a railway station and ensure uninterrupted supply of power.
The land is required for construction of the factory and housing quarters for its employees. The state government will have to give the required land for free.
Deputy Commissioner of Yadgir F M Jamadar, told Express that he has not received any communication from the state government in this regard so far. He said that the RCF, once established, will boost economic activities in the region. “It will create direct and indirect employment opportunities. Ancillary industries will also come up in the district,” he said. When asked whether the process of identification of the land has begun, Jamadar said it will be taken up once a letter is received from the state government.
Highlights
■ RCF will be second big industry in Yadgir
■ Estimated cost is `750 crore
■ 150 acres required
■ 300 coaches to be produced per year
■ Railways asks state Govt to identify land