PM Modi to dedicate nation’s first 9000 HP locomotive engine at Dahod

NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is set to dedicate 9,000 horsepower (HP) electric locomotive engine at the Dahod railway manufacturing unit in Gujarat.

Modi will visit Dahod, Kachchh, and Gandhinagar on 26 and 27 May, where he is scheduled to participate in a series of events across the three districts. According to ANI, it will be his first visit to his home state following the Operation Sindoor.

The factory is part of a public-private partnership (PPP) model and aims to produce 1,200 locomotive engines over the next 10 years. These engines are expected to serve both domestic and international markets, aligning with India’s export goals.

At Dahod, Siemens India is the technological partner for the manufacturing and maintenance of 9000 HP electric freight locomotives. PM Modi laid the Foundation Stone of the project on 20 April 2022.

The total estimated value of the project stands at Rs 26,000 crore (approximately USD 3.2 billion), excluding taxes and price adjustments, according to a statement from the Ministry of Railways.

According to Zee News, the powerful 9000 HP, 6-axle electric locomotive will run at an average speed of 75 km per hour. Its maintenance will be handled at specially designated depots located in Kharagpur (West Bengal), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), and Pune (Maharashtra).

This project is expected to create jobs for nearly 10,000 people in Dahod and surrounding areas, directly and indirectly.