Advertisement
Indian Railways unveiled a sweeping revamp of its maintenance regime for locomotive sheds by rolling out long-term contracts and an inspection-maintenance-confirmation (IMC) framework. The move responds to a substantial rise in the induction of wagons, coaches and locomotives, and aims to bolster efficiency, accountability and infrastructure capacity. With freight loading expected to escalate significantly, the new system is designed to relieve strain on existing maintenance facilities and align practices with international norms.
Indian Railways has introduced a fresh maintenance paradigm, integrating long-term contracting for loco sheds alongside adoption of the IMC model - a structural shift intended to match the demands of a surging fleet. The Railway Board, following its review, observed that existing maintenance setups must expand in line with the induction of record volumes of wagons, coaches and locomotives. Each zonal railway is now selecting sites for development of mega coaching and freight depots, as freight loading is expected to surge by 25-30 per cent in the years ahead. Advertisement
Over the past four years, more than 100,000 wagons have been inducted into service. The railways believe that an additional 35,000 wagons will be added annually in the near future - a pace that would place intense pressure on existing maintenance infrastructure. The official emphasised that priorities include enhanced yard inspections and routine overhaul facilities to maintain operational reliability and performance. He also noted that rolling stock should be engineered with maintainability and asset reliability in mind.
A prominent change is the incorporation of the IMC model for railway turnouts, critical track components that guide trains across tracks. This mechanism will decouple maintenance oversight from operational functions, mirroring global best practices in large-scale asset care. The Railway Board stated that this approach will foster greater objectivity, accountability and improved quality in asset maintenance across zones.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
