ISLAMABAD: The government has informed the Senate that the Pakistan Railways requires 500 diesel electric locomotives to meet the anticipated freight and passenger traffic during the next 10 years for which a bid is to be opened next month.
Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique told the House during the question hour in a written reply that in the first phase, international tender was proposed to be floated in near future for manufacture and procurement of 200 locomotives, which also included partial manufacture of locomotives at Pakistan Railways Locomotive Factory, Risalpur.
He said that the factory would be utilised by upgrading its existing capacity from 25 locomotives per annum on a single shift to produce 50 machines per annum through enhanced indigenisation. He was responding to a query by the PML-N Senator Chaudhry Tanvir Khan.
“Transfer of technology for local manufacturing of locomotives with the target of 50 percent deletion including complete traction motors, traction control system, cards and software etc. in first five years of operation is envisaged,” he noted.
The minister said that the scheme for upgradation and commercial operations of Pakistan Locomotive Factory, Risalpur on joint venture with private sector was accordingly being explored. In this context, engagement of experts for evaluation of assets of the locomotive factory for entering into joint venture with prospective original equipment manufacturers was under process.
“Pakistan Railways has sought expression of interest form technically qualified and financially sound private investors to participate in the bid, to be opened on February 10, 2016,” the minister pointed out.
He noted that the infrastructure of the factory had been geared up in the last two years to diversify the activities with modification of 42 locomotives out of project of special repair of 250 locomotives, work was in progress on this count. Moreover, the minister said, 400 hopper wagons were to be manufactured, 66 Hitachi traction motors being rehabilitated and 40 poer vans being converted into brake vans.
Replying to another question by Senator Tanvir about the overall improvement in the Railways, the minister pointed out that the punctuality of passenger trains, which was 10 percent in 2012 had been brought to 65 percent in 2015 that was recorded to be now 72 percent.
He noted oil reserves, which had declined to two days, had been improved to 12 days and this had substantially contributed in increased operational efficiency. The project of rehabilitation of 27 locomotives was started in 2013-2014, out of which 15 locomotives had been rolled out.
Moreover, a project of special repair of 150 locomotives was undertaken in 2013-2014, out of which 106 had been rolled out: project would be completed in 2015-2016. Another project of special repairs of 100 locomotives had been initiated last year, procurement process had been started and the project would be completed by 2016-2017.
The minister continued the process of induction of new locomotives had been started too and an order for 55 high horse power (400-4,500HP) had been placed on M/s GE of the US. Likewise, 63 new locomotives had been inducted in the fleet during 2014-15 and 55 state-of-the-art locomotives with hauling capacity of 2,500 to 4,500HP would be inducted in the fleet.