Interview Insights:
Rail Analysis: How has Jindal Rail’s Original Vision Adapted to Industry Shifts and its Strategic investments in Gujarat?
Mr. Surendra Kumar Khare: Jindal Rail has strategically invested in Vadodara, Gujarat recognizing its Industrial Significance. Vadodara serves as a crucial hub for manufacturing and commerce in Gujarat, offering access to skilled labour, robust infrastructure, and favourable business policies. By establishing a presence in Vadodara, Jindal Rail capitalizes the region’s industrial prowess to bolster its operations and strengthen its position to manufacture Rolling Stocks (i.e. Wagon, Locomotive and Coach etc.) for domestic and international markets.
Rail Analysis: What are the products manufactured by you for the rail freight industry and what are the key challenges you face and how is Jindal Rail addressing them?
Mr. Surendra Kumar Khare: Jindal Rail prides itself on its diverse range of high-quality products tailored for the railway freight industry. Our expertise spans the manufacturing of various wagon types, including Open, Hopper, Flat, Well, Covered, and Tank Wagons. In addition, we have extended our capabilities to produce components for coaches, locomotives, and for Défense applications. To date, we have delivered approximately 9000 wagons to Indian Railways, Private Operators, Leasing Companies, Auto Freight Train Operators, Container Train Operators, and more.
Among our standout offerings is the BFNV wagon, which has showcased its exceptional performance through the seamless operation of over 3000 units across the vast expanse of the Indian Railway network. This success story serves as a testament to our commitment to excellence. Building upon this legacy, our latest innovation, the BOSM wagon, has garnered significant traction within Indian Railways circles. Currently, a tender for the procurement of 12000 units is in its final stages, indicating strong endorsement and demand for this cutting-edge product. The imminent launch of the BOSM wagon promises to carve out its own chapter of success in the industry.
Despite our achievements, we acknowledge the challenges inherent in the wagon manufacturing sector, particularly concerning the concentration of industry players and key component manufacturers in regions like Kolkata, West Bengal. To address this, Jindal Rail is proactively working on fortifying the supply chain ecosystem. We are strategically developing suppliers of casting items, sourcing other essential machine components, and fostering vendor networks in Gujarat. By diversifying and decentralizing our supply chain, we aim to enhance efficiency, resilience, and ultimately, better serve the needs of our valued customers in the rail freight industry.
Rail Analysis: We all believe that the 21st century belongs to India, Do you agree, If yes, how do you place the future of freight corridors coming up in the near future?
Mr. Surendra Kumar Khare: We do belief that the 21st century holds promise for India’s growth and development. India undeniably has the potential to emerge as a global leader in various sectors.
Regarding the future of dedicated freight corridors (DFCs) in India, they are poised to revolutionize the country’s logistics landscape. With the development of DFCs, India aims to enhance freight transportation efficiency, reduce congestion on existing rail networks, and promote economic growth by facilitating seamless movement of goods across the country.
The implementation of DFC projects like the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) signifies a significant commitment from the government to modernize India’s rail infrastructure. These corridors are expected to provide faster, safer, and more cost-effective transportation of goods, thereby boosting industrial productivity and competitiveness. To meet this requirement Jindal is ready with higher axle load wagons like BFNV, Taller Auto Car Carrier, BOSM wagon and some more under pipeline, which are designed and developed keeping in mind the need and advantage of DFC’s.
Additionally, DFCs have the potential to attract private investment in logistics and warehousing along their routes, leading to the development of integrated logistics hubs and industrial clusters. This, in turn, could stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and contribute to India’s overall development trajectory.
Rail Analysis: How does your company ensure product compliance with safety and regulatory standards across diverse markets?
Mr. Surendra Kumar Khare: Jindal Rail ensures product compliance with safety and regulatory standards across diverse markets through rigorous quality control processes, adherence to international standards, and continuous monitoring of regulatory requirements. This includes regular audits, comprehensive testing procedures, and collaboration with regulatory bodies to stay updated on evolving standards. By prioritizing safety and compliance, Jindal Rail maintains the integrity of its products and builds trust with customers worldwide.
Rail Analysis: How does Jindal Rail align its production and innovation with the evolving needs of Indian Railways?
Mr. Surendra Kumar Khare: Jindal Rail aligns its production and innovation with the evolving needs of Rail freight by actively engaging in dialogue with key stakeholders, closely monitoring industry trends, and investing in research and development. Through agile manufacturing processes and responsive innovation initiatives, Jindal Rail ensures that its products and solutions are tailored to meet the specific requirements of the Customer, thus contributing to the modernization and efficiency of the rail network. Jindal designed Special Purpose Wagons boasts an impressive capacity, capable of carrying up to 100 tons of cargo per wagon. Compared to traditional wagons, this represents a significant increase in payload capacity, enabling industries to transport larger volumes of commodities in fewer trips. The adoption of
theses wagons leads to notable cost savings for industries involved in bulk commodity transportation. By optimizing payload capacity and minimizing transit times, Special Purpose Wagons
reduce logistics costs associated with fuel consumption, labour, and maintenance. Moreover, their environmentally sustainable design aligns with India’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting eco-friendly transportation solutions.
Rail Analysis: Are you exporting your products / coaches and can you highlight a key success story from your export ventures?
Mr. Surendra Kumar Khare: Yes, Jindal Rail actively exports its products and components, leveraging its expertise in product development to meet diverse market demands. One notable success story is from Mozambique where we have supplied Gondola wagon’s improvised design in Master and Slave configuration. These wagons are equipped with fixed and rotary coupler capable of tippling two wagon at a time to cut down unloading time drastically. This endeavour not only demonstrated our commitment to quality and innovation but also solidified our position as a trusted partner in the global rail industry.
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