Patna: A rail engine factory in Madhoura, has marked a milestone in India’s “Make in India” initiative with the first consignment of locomotives bound for Guinea. Four blue-coloured engines, each with a capacity of 4,500 horsepower and named ‘Como’, left the factory this week, signalling the start of a broader export programme.
The deal, signed earlier this year during a visit by a Guinean delegation, involves the export of 140 locomotives worth Rs 3,000 crore. The factory, spread over 200 acres, has been operational since 2018 and can produce a locomotive every two days.
Construction of the facility began in 2015, and it features over 2,000 pillars, a 4.6 km boundary wall, 4.8 km of internal roads, and 1.8 km of rail track. More than 10,000 workers are employed on-site, including 1,528 factory staff—99 of whom are from Bihar. Women play a prominent role in welding, crane operation, assembly, and testing, with the average employee aged just 24. Workers are drawn from 17 technical institutes across the state.
The factory currently manufactures 4,500-horsepower engines, with plans to scale up to 6,000 horsepower. Engines supplied domestically are painted red and yellow, while those for Guinea are blue. Each locomotive is equipped with modern features, including air-conditioned cabs, event recorders, advanced braking systems, and loco control mechanisms.
Since 2018, the Madhoura plant has produced 700 engines and maintained over 250, outpacing Gujarat’s Gandhidham facility. The factory operates as a joint venture: the Ministry of Railways holds a 24% stake, while international company Webtech owns 76%. Initial investment stood at Rs 800 crore, expected to rise to Rs 3,000 crore in the coming years.
The economic impact on the surrounding area has been significant. Bihar earns Rs 900 crore annually in GST from the factory, and the plant pays over Rs 50 crore a year in energy bills. Local infrastructure has grown in response, with new hotels, restaurants, schools, banks, and ATMs opening nearby.
