New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 10 flagged off India’s most powerful electric locomotive at a ceremony in Bihar’s Motihari.
The PM, who was accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, also waved the green flag to signal via video link the maiden run of the Humsafar train between Katihar and New Delhi.
The PM also dedicated a loco factory in Madhepura and laid the foundation of a track-doubling project in Bihar. The Madhepura loco factory – a JV between Indian Railways and French engineering giant Alstom – has the capacity to manufacture 110 locomotives per annum.
WAG12–60001 is a 12,000 horsepower blue electric train engine, the most powerful in the country. It is the first engine to roll out of the factory. According to reports, the Railways has set a target of manufacturing 800 locos (five assembled and 795 manufactured) over a period of 11 years.
At the launch of the engine, the PM pointed out that the project was approved in 2007 but work began only three years ago during the NDA rule.
“The project got approval in 2007. In spite of the approval, the files didn’t get power for the next 8 years. Three years ago, the NDA government started work on the project and have now completed the first phase,” he said.
Modi also highlighted that the Madhepura Electric Locomotive Factory is a prime example of Make in India and a source of employment in the region.
Besides flagging off of the train and the factory, the PM also launched a series of development projects.
He unveiled a plaque to mark the foundation stone of Motijheel Project, the Bettiah Nagar Parishad Water Supply Scheme and four Ganga Projects.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a road lane of NH-2 in Aurangabad Bihar-Jharkhand border section and distributed awards to Champion Swachhagrahis from across the country.
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