Railways Ministry Responds to Congress Allegations Over Dahod Project, Asserts Transparency and ‘Make in India’ Commitment
In response to allegations raised by the Congress party over the ₹26,000 crore locomotive contract awarded to Siemens India for the Dahod manufacturing plant, the Ministry of Railways has issued a detailed clarification, asserting that the entire tender process was conducted transparently and professionally, without any conflict of interest.
The Ministry clarified that both Siemens and Alstom, the only two global firms capable of manufacturing 9,000-horsepower electric locomotives, participated in the 2022 bidding process for the Dahod factory. While both firms met the technical criteria, Siemens emerged as the lowest bidder, securing the contract based on price competitiveness. The evaluation, the Ministry noted, was conducted by a team of technical and financial experts, in line with established Indian Railways procedures.
Rejecting charges of favoritism, the Ministry emphasized that since 2016, Railway Ministers do not have any role in tender approvals. All contracts are approved by empowered Railway Board members and zonal officials, ensuring institutional transparency. The Ministry said, “There is no question of conflict of interest. The process was strictly rule-based and objective.”
The government also highlighted the ‘Make in India’ success of the project, stating that 89% of components used in Dahod-manufactured locomotives are made in India. These include complex parts sourced from various domestic suppliers, marking a significant leap in India’s locomotive production capabilities.
The Ministry reiterated that both Siemens and Alstom have long-standing partnerships with Indian Railways, and that the shift to life cycle cost-based procurement ensures higher reliability and safety standards for Indian passengers. The locomotives produced at Dahod will be maintained at four depots – Visakhapatnam, Raipur, Kharagpur, and Pune.
This clarification comes after Congress spokesperson Brijendra alleged that the Dahod facility was merely an assembly and testing plant, not full-fledged manufacturing, and questioned whether the Railway Minister’s past association with Siemens posed a conflict of interest. The party demanded an independent investigation.
In response, the Ministry stated, “All claims have been addressed with facts. This project is a major boost to Indian Railways’ modernization and the national goal of self-reliant manufacturing.”
