Telangana to set up Metro Rail coach factory soon

Hyderabad, Oct 28: The Telangana government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Medha Servo Drives to set up a Metro Rail coach factory, which will come up at Kodakal in Sangareddy district with an investment of Rs 800 crore.TSIIC has allocated 100-acre land for the project. Initially, the factory will make metro rail coaches and subsequently will make diesel and electric locomotives in the second phase in addition to future plans on exports as well.Telangana IT Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and Kashyap Reddy, MD, Medha Servo Drives, have signed MoU in the presence of Telangana IT and Industry Minister KT Rama Rao. Highlighting the efforts put in by TS government, KTR said: "We ll begin works on metro rail coach factory in 4-5 months. The new project will generate 2,000 jobs. India has few rail coach factories.This factory will strengthen the aim of government to make Telangana a manufacturing hub of the country. I am proud that Medha Servo Drives is a Hyderabad-based company. We ll begin with metro rail coaches and will make diesel and electric locomotives in the next phase.We have a long-term plan for exports. Maybe the day is not far, Telangana will export coaches to the US and Europe."Jayesh Ranjan said, "Telangana got another major project from TSiPASS. Rail coach factory will be set up with private partnership. It ll generate employment opportunities for local youth."Reddy adds that "We have partnered with Kolkata Metro Rail project. We have been working on Railway Integral coach factory for the past three years. We anticipate an immediate production level of 200-300 coaches per annum here. We ll invest Rs 800 crore in next five years."A strategic foreign collaborator, govt didn t reveal its name, will also be part of the project. "As part of the AP Reorganisation Act, the Centre promised us a rail coach factory.Subsequently, Telangana government has earmarked 72 acres for the factory. But, so far, no response from the Centre. The KCR-led government has taken all steps for setting up Metro rail coach factory in the state," further said KTR.