(a) whether the Railways have taken a note that the Rail Wheel Plant is producing less ‘Box-N’ type wheels than its actual capacity situated in Bela, Bihar;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)
(a) Yes, Madam.
(b)&(c) This factory is quite different from the conventional Railway factories. Being a process plant heavily dependent on performance of Machinery & Plant as well as various parameters associated with steel melting and casting, it takes longer time to establish the factory and stabilize production. The only other similar factory established so far by Railways viz., Rail Wheel Factory/Yelahanka set up in the 80s with the foreign technology provider assisting in the process throughout, also took over 10 years to get established and stabilize on its production. As compared to that, Rail Wheel Factory/Bela has been set up with indigenous efforts in a quicker time and is very much in the process of establishing regular production.