| Cost: Rs 6 crore |
| Length: 21 metres |
| Capacity: 1,000 persons in a 3-car train |
| Indigenous steel, electrical and electronic system |
| AC without heating system |
| Technology developed by BEML |
They are moving the earth to ensure residents of smaller Indian towns, who may not want to dish out Rs 10 or 15 for a ticket, can also hop on to the metro rail map. Engineers at BEML, formerly known as Bharat Earth Movers Ltd., are designing “low-cost coaches” for metro services in tier-II and tier-III cities. The PSU is all set to roll out the coaches, each costing around Rs 6 crore as against Rs 11 crore for a regular metro coach.
“The final designs are ready and we have submitted a proposal to the Urban Development Ministry for its approval and placement of prototype orders for a set of four cars. We are hopeful the ministry will support our R&D initiatives in larger national interest,” says V.RS. Natarajan, CMD, BEML.
The PSU bosses, however, are not willing to reveal too many details as yet. Explains Natarajan: “We have used indigenous products as against imported steel and electrical systems in high-end coaches. However, there has been no compromise on quality.”
