WR mulls Rs 176 cr makeover plan for Lower Parel Workshop

Western Railway plans to upgrade its Lower Parel Workshop here at a cost of Rs 176 crore, a senior railway official said Friday.

The workshop, established by the erstwhile Bombay Baroda and Central India (BBCI) Railway in 1870, overhauls 140 long-distance train coaches every month.

Spread over an area of 14 hectares, the workshop employs 3,400 people including 280 women, and has been the recipient of various industrial and technical certifications.

"A detailed makeover plan of the workshop has been sent to WR headquarters which will forward it to the Railway Board for approval. The entire project will involve a cost of Rs 176 crore," said Akhilesh Kumar, Chief Workshop Manager.

Kumar said that, as part of the makeover, the workshop will be equipped with automated paint booth, plasma cutting machines, grit blasting machines, lathe machines etc to increase its output.

WR chief spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar said that the workshop was engaged in installing 4-step ladders in first class AC coaches to make the upper berths accessible, putting up Braille signages and improving train lavatory fitments.

"This is one of the oldest workshops and has always been a centre of excellence right from its inception. Currently, it is also fitting fire extinguishers with anti-theft mechanism, as well as bio-toilets in trains," he said.