Railways Awards Contract For 39,000 Train Wheels To Chinese Firm As Russia-Ukraine War Hits Deliveries From Other Countries: Report

With the Russia-Ukraine war negatively impacting global supply chain, the Indian Railways has reportedly awarded a contract for supply of 39,000 train wheels to a Chinese company.

The Railways' tender for solid forged wheels (rough turned) has been awarded to TZ Hong Kong International Limited, sources were quoted in a Economic Times report as saying.

The development comes as deliveries from other countries got affected due to Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"These wheels are for the Vande Bharat trains. This development can be seen as a fall out of the Russia-Ukraine crisis as there is a dearth of rail wheel suppliers to India," a senior rail ministry official was quoted in the ET report as saying.

The tender for wheels, with a value of Rs 170 crore, was opened on 4 April this year and the railway ministry awarded it to the Chinese firm on 2 May.

The wheels will reportedly be manufactured at Taiyuan Heavy Industry Railway Transit Equipment Company at Dianzi Steet in Taiyuan City, Shanxi, China. This is a part of Taiyuan Heavy Industry Co, Ltd (TYHI), according to the Railway Board's order awarding the tender.

TZ Hong Kong International Ltd, the company that has been awarded the tender, is the international trading arm of Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co, Ltd.

It should be noted that amid the supply issues from Ukraine, the Indian Railways has also decided to manufacture the wheels at Yelahanka in Bangalore.

The Indian Railways will begin manufacturing the wheels at the Railway Wheel Factory (RWF) in Yelahanka, which has already floated tenders for the parts required to start manufacturing.

It is expected to complete the production in the next two-three months, officials aware of the matter were quoted in an Indian Express report as saying.

The factory has been manufacturing axles for these wheels, even the imported ones.