CHENNAI: The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, has received orders from the Sri Lankan Railways to manufacture 15 rakes of Diesel Multiple Units having 90 coaches this year, said M S Jayanth, ICF general manager.
Speaking at the 54th Railway Week celebrations of the factory, Jayanth said that the order had come through RITES and the total cost of the project would be Rs 102 crores.
ICF had already been exporting coaches to foreign countries and last year, the factory delivered coaches to Angola.
The factory is also manufacturing suburban coaches for Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, luxury coaches for Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, coaches for Lifeline Express, LHB stainless steel shells and others.
Jayanth said that the factory saw the landmark of completing cumulative production of 40,000 coaches this year. The first 10,000 coaches were produced during 1977-78, the second 10,000 coaches during 1989- 90 and the third 10,000 during 2000-01. “The gap between each 10,000 coaches is self-explanatory,” he added.
This year the factory exceeded its target for manufacturing railway coaches. It manufactured 1,337 coaches as against the target of 1,335.
Keeping in mind the increase of second-class passengers, the factory is giving preference to produce such coaches. Last year, ICF produced 701 secondclass coaches as against the target of 604 coaches.
The factory has been also contributing to the growth of the neighbourhood by taking up a series of welfare projects. It has taken up a project to supply piped water to ICF colonies with the help of Metro Water and also to streamline drainage outlet from the factory’s colonies.
It is also making strides in power generation and eco-preservation arenas. ICF has installed a 10.5 MW windmill in Thottapalli Village, Tirunelveli district. The production of 25.9 million units from the windmill will offset the power requirements of the factory.
Later, he presented awards to employees to mark the railway week celebrations. Among those who attended the meeting were L M Sahore, Chief Electrical Engineer and S Anandraj, General Secretary ICF staff council.