Trains in the country will soon be running on the wheels made in Bihar. Railway Ministry sources have confirmed that the Rail Wheel Factory, Bela, Chapra is to be commissioned soon, a development which would reduce Indian Railways dependence on import of wheels.
It will be the first railway project in the state and would pave way for rapid indusrialisation of North Bihar. "The construction work is almost over," said one of the officials involved in the project, "and it will be commissioned soon. The trial production has been successful. We now hope that it will be inaugurated by the end of next month or early next year. It will be a great relief for the Railways as it will save us great deal of money." The project was announced in the 2005 Railway Budget by the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad. The work began in 2008. It will provide direct employment to 1,000 people. The project, which would be the second such railway factory in the country after the one in Bangalore, will have the capacity to produce about one lakh wheels of goods wagons, passenger coaches and locomotives per year fulfilling the needs of the entire eastern and northern regions of the country.
"We are preparing for the inauguration of the project. We have decided to invite Bihar CM Nitish Kumar of this occasion. "Minister of States for Railway KH Muniyappa told Business Standard few days ago. He, however, did not announced the date of inauguration. The minister also refuted the charge of discrimination against Bihar by the Ministry.
