CEL to get into Metro Railways signalling

State-run Central Electronics Ltd (CEL), which was nursed back to health in 2005-06, plans to supply signalling and telecom equipment for Metro Railways starting with Kolkata Metro.

CEL will execute the Metro connectivity projects in association with the Japanese firms Marubeni Corporation and Nippon, according to the Board for Reconstruction of Public Enterprises (BRPSE) which has helped the Sahibabad- headquartered company in its revival.

CEL, which is a major supplier of electronic signalling, digital axle counters and safety equipment to the Indian Railways, also plans to develop dye-sensitised solar cells in association with EFPL of Switzerland, BRPSE said.

The company which had run into financial problems since 2002, returned to profit in 2005-06. It has been making profits for the last four consecutive financial years.

CEL was established in 1974 to commercially exploit indigenous technologies developed by national laboratories and research and development institutions in the country.
    
It has also developed a number of products for the first time in the country, through its own R&D efforts, in close association with premier national and international laboratories, including defence laboratories.
    
During 2009-10, the company recorded a turnover of Rs 12,150 lakh.
    
Till date BRPSE has considered 67 cases and recommended revival of 59 CPSEs and closure of 3 CPSEs envisaging a total assistance of Rs 34,800 crore.
    
The government has approved revival of 40 CPSEs and closure of 2 CPSEs envisaging a total assistance of Rs 23,612 crore, benefitting 171,000 employees.