By Shri Anil Kumar, Secretary General, National Confederation of Officer’s Associations (NCOA)
The BEML, which was put up for sale by the central government saying it was inefficient, has won the bid to manufacture India’s first High Speed bullet train, for the Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor at half the price, following the successful manufacture of Vande Bharat trains. This historic feat was achieved by defeating multinational companies in a global tender.
This historic achievement came after 1348 days of struggle of BEML against the privatisation of BEML.
BEML, a public sector enterprise that was set to be sold by the central government at a paltry sum, created history by building the Vande Bharat train at a low cost. It was built at a cost of Rs 67.5 crore, including the engine, for a 16-coach train whereas a private company was given an order to manufacture the same train at a price of Rs 140 crores using ICF Chennai coach factory site, staff and infrastructure. That’s where BEML made history by producing the same train at half the cost.
The Railways decided to build 80 Vande Bharat trains with 16 coaches. The construction cost of the private company was Rs 9000 crore but BEML can build them for Rs 5400 crore.
Despite the so-called patriotism expressed by the ruling party, they were trying to sell off BEML for just Rs. 2000 Crores to private corporates.
It is in this context that BEML won the construction contract for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed bullet train, which will be built for the first time in India at a low cost, by beating foreign corporate companies through a global tender.
Meanwhile, private companies are eyeing with eagle eyes on BEML which is making Vande Bharat coaches at half the cost with world class standards.
Last month, the country’s proudest project, the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, was designed and built for the Indian Railways at the Bengaluru plant. The contract for 210 metro coaches for Chennai Metro Corporation was also won by BEML. BEML has won orders worth Rs. 3087 crore to manufacture Chennai Metro Coaches.
The central government has published a global tender to sell this huge institution with assets of Rs 56,000 crore for just Rs 2,000 crore and shortlisted two private companies one of which builds canals and bridges and the other dismantles and sells scraps!!
BEML is also a national defence organization that manufactures armoured vehicles for the Indian Army.
It was after 1348 days of agitations against the sale of BEML that this Central Public Sector Undertaking achieved this legendary feat of building Vande Bharat and Bullet Trains at a low cost.
Why is this great institution, the pride of India, being placed for sale at a paltry sum?
Employees are asking this question in the interest of the nation and they are pledged to continue their ‘dharma’ struggle.