The Germany-based transportation division of Bombardier and Siemens are among the global conglomerates pitching in for contracts to build networks to run metro train services in Indian cities including Chennai, Pune and Lucknow.
The German rail industry is also keen to partner the Indian Railways in the futuristic project of creating networks to run new generation trains (NGTs) or high-speed trains on 800 kilometre long routes in India.
Thirty five routes across India, with an annual passenger traffic of 1,03,90561 have been identified by the Stuttgart-based German Aerospace Center (DLR) — which is developing the trains of the future.
“The Indian locomotive industry has a huge potential and German firms are bidding for contracts in areas including consultancy services and logistics cooperation,” said Joachim Winter, project director, DLR.
“The Indian rail industry also has the potential to provide a huge competition to the shipping industry in the field of freight transportation between Europe and Asia,” said Wolfgang Kupper, head of the rail policy unit at the German federal ministry of transport. “The German industry can provide technical consultancy to the Indian Railways to build trans-national rail lines.”
A German delegation visited Bangalore early this month for discussions with the officials of the DV Sadananda Gowda government on a possible partnership for the future development of the Bangalore metro project.
{{/usCountry}}A German delegation visited Bangalore early this month for discussions with the officials of the DV Sadananda Gowda government on a possible partnership for the future development of the Bangalore metro project.
{{/usCountry}}(The writer’s trip was sponsored by the German government).