We expect the market potential of about Rs. 20,000 crore for metro projects in next five years.

Amit Banerjee, Director (Rail & Metro Business), BEML Limited

BEML Limited has been playing a stellar role and been serving India's core sectors like Defence, Rail, Power, Mining and Infrastructure. Recently Amit Banerjee has been appointed as Director (Rail & Metro Business) and Member on the Board of BEML Limited. He has played a significant role in phased indigenization of rolling stock aggregates. BEML, as the country's major contributor in Metro EMU rolling stocks focuses on sustainable mobility solutions,” says Amit Banerjee, Director (Rail & Metro Business),  BEML Limited. Excerpts from the interview…

You have recently taken charge as the new Director (Rail & Metro Business), BEML. Congratulations. What is your immediate action plan in such a troubled times where the railway sector has been hit to the core?

Thanks for your wishes. We understand that manufacturing industries are facing challenges in this pandemic scenario. While government is taking measures to ease the scenario, BEML prefer to focus on the metro orders on hand. BEML is executing Mumbai & Bangalore metro rolling stock orders and our action plans are more focussed on regulating the challenges faced in supply chain and logistics areas hampered during this pandemic.

Could you throw some light on the current investment scenario in India in the Railway / Metro sector?

Govt. of India is in the process on transforming Indian Railways. It has planned several projects such as electrification, high speed railways, private operation of trains, refurbishment of existing rolling stocks, Metro Neo, Metrolite. Many Tier II cities have been approved for implementation of metro rail projects such as Bhopal, Patna, Indore, Amaravati, Guwahati, etc. BEML expects some of these projects to be tendered in the upcoming financial year. Further, we expect the extensions of the existing lines, Metro Neo, Light Metro to cater mobilization demand.

What critical role BEML is playing in the massive drive of transforming the Indian railways?

BEML is to play a part of local manufacturing plan in high speed trains for Mumbai - Ahmadabad ad high speed rail project. Further, BEML is interested to explore the businesses associated with transit systems such as Operation & Maintenance of Trains, refurbishment of existing stocks and aluminium coaches. With this, BEML is planning to contribute and support, increasing transport efficiency and decongesting the densely populated cities.

Could you throw some light on the major projects BEML is currently executing in India and upcoming rail & metro projects that are on the pipeline?

Executing Projects:

• Mumbai Metro rail project for Mumbai Metro Region Development Authority thru' DMRC • Bangalore Metro rail project phase - II • Delhi Metro rail project • Mainline EMUs • Maintenance vehicles for Indian Railway & Metro Corporations.

Upcoming projects:

• Chennai Metro phase - II • Delhi Metro phase 4 • Amaravati mero / LRT / Metro Neo • MAHSR high speed coaches • Other high speed rail projects • Maintenance Vehicles • Indore-Bhopal metro • Amaravati light metro • Surat metro • Meerut metro • Patna metro • Prayagraj Light metro • Coimbatore metro

What are the major technology trends in sustainable mobility solutions?

We believe streamlined movement of passengers, decongested, organized, eco-friendly and energy conservational urban transport methods as part of our sustainable mobility solutions.  BEML, as the country's major contributor in Metro EMU rolling stocks focuses on the above solutions by supplying its reliable and qualitative trains coupled with power conservational design (regenerative braking), Unattended train operation (UTO) i.e., driverless trains, thereby increasing operational efficiency.

How strong is the drive towards 'localisation' in BEML? 

BEML has always been a supporter of localizing the technologies/components for Rail & Metro business verticles. Further, BEML is encouraging offshore suppliers to tie-up with the local suppliers and improve localization. BEML  prefers to provide opportunity for local suppliers in executing our projects, provided, if they qualify customer's technical requirements with their sustainbale design to support our project execution. Further, BEML has well maintained project management process and continuously monitored with software based enterprise resource planning methods to coordinate and execute projects on time.

What has been the impact of the pandemic on this sector and specifically on your business performance?

As you might be aware, the government has restricted the operation of MRT systems to contain the pandemic. Owing to this, Metro corporations are facing difficuties in meeting their revenue targets. This may lead to delay (or) conservational approach towards new project approvals and related funds allotments. Specifically, BEML has faced major challenges in supply chain and expensive logistics in executing the projects in pandemic. However, we are giving all our efforts to manage the project within target timelines. As the country is moving to normalcy, BEML expects the government to relax the restrictions and business to recover in the lines of global market scenario.

Could you brief us on the outlook of the sector?

We expect the market potential of about Rs.20,000 crore for metro projects in next five years with projects such as Indore-Bhopal metro, Surat metro, Guwahati metro, etc. Further, BEML plans to venture into local manufacturing of traction systems and other modes of transportations, such as Monorail/Metro Neo/ Light metro. BEML is in talks with the government authorities to be a part of local manufacturing plan for manufacturing high speed coaches. With this, BEML expects the road map to achieve the business growth in a faster pace. Overall, the outlook of Rail & Metro sector is lucrative.

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