Bengaluru: Ahead of India’s ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project, city-based Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) has received a fresh order to manufacture 16 more trains for the project at a cost of Rs 5,400 crore.In its disclosure made to National Stock Exchange (NSE) late last week, BEML stated it has secured the order from the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) for supply and maintenance of high-speed rolling stock and allied works for Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail (MAHSR) Corridor.BEML shares gained over 6% as of Friday evening following the disclosure, rising to Rs 2,135 from Rs 2,013. According to the order, it will manufacture at least 16 trainsets for India’s first bullet train project. These trainsets will be supplied in addition to the two more trainsets named “B-28” currently being manufactured at Aditya plant in BEML’s Thippasandra facility.“These 16 trainsets will also use the same indigenous technology for manufacture and design like the B-28. They are also most likely to be manufactured in Bengaluru facility,” a source aware of developments told TOI. The design of the new trainsets is yet to be finalised.While a deadline for the supply of these trains is yet to be announced, BEML could also shift part of the train production to its upcoming plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, with an investment of Rs 900 crore. The Bengaluru-based public sector undertaking would take a call on the matter depending on the delivery schedule.B-28 trainsets that have a maximum design speed of 280kmph and an operational speed of 250kmph are set to be rolled out by March 2027. They were jointly designed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Chennai and BEML. The two trainsets will be built as part of a contract worth Rs 866.9 crore.The first section of Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is set to be ready next year, and Union govt is planning 7,000km-long high-speed lines, with corridors to Chennai and Hyderabad from Bengaluru currently in the pipeline.
