Turbo Failures In Two Diesel Locos Exported To Mozambique

In a setback to Make-in-India initiatives, two diesel locomotives manufactured at Banaras Locomotive Works in Varanasi and exported to Mozambique, have developed technical snags due to the turbo failure.

Besides, another diesel locomotive meant to be exported to Mozambique also failed during the test trial at the factory for the same turbo problem. All these turbochargers are also made in India.

The turbo failure has not only caused a problem in Mozambique, it has also created a possible roadblock for the future export schedule to neighbouring country Zimbabwe. According to sources, after the turbo failure incidents in Mozambique, the export programme for Zimbabwe has also been slowed down.

According to the arrangement with Mozambique, Indian Railways would export a total eight diesel locomotives out of which four are already being sent. While two are already running successfully, other two locos faced problems with the turbocharger.

While the locos are being manufactured at BLW, the turbochargers are being provided by RITES, the Railways PSU.

However, sources in RITES said the locos for Mozambique are all customised as per the requirement of the country. "The turbochargers manufactured in India have developed some problems and we are in the process of replacing these faulty ones as these are still under warranty period," sources added.

According to sources in the BLW, turbo, a critical component of the locomotive, was purchased by RITES.

RITES, the export arm of the Railways, maintained that the export order from Zimbabwe has not been formally placed yet and it is still in the discussion stage.

On the failure of the turbo of the third locomotive at BLW, which is yet to be exported, RITES maintained that it would be dispatched only after rectifying the error.

While a turbocharger costs about Rs 50 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, the manufacturing cost of a locomotive is around Rs 13 crore to Rs 14 crore.

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