The Rail Wheel Plant, a PSU under the Railways, has received a significant boost with the acquisition of a lucrative order from Container Corporation of India (Concor). The order entails the manufacturing of 24,000 wheels at an estimated cost of over Rs 2.58 billion.

Concor, a multi-modal logistics company, recently placed the order with the Rail Wheel Plant located near Patna in Bihar. The wheels, designed for 25-ton axle load wagons, will be produced at the Bela plant. The total value of the order amounts to Rs 2,582,928,000, and the Bela plant is expected to deliver 8,000 wheels annually for three years.

This order holds particular importance considering the government's plan to divest from Concor. However, the divestment process has experienced delays due to various reasons, as per sources. Nonetheless, the order placed by Concor is a significant boost for the Rail Wheel Plant in Bihar. Currently, the plant produces 30,000 wheels per year, with expectations to increase production to 50,000 wheels annually in the near future.

The Rail Wheel Plant at Bela operates with state-of-the-art technology sourced from Griffin, an American company. The plant's engineers have fully absorbed the technology and are adept at its utilisation.

During the Covid crisis, RWP Bela played a crucial role as the sole source of liquid oxygen in north Bihar. To prioritise its use in ICUs of various hospitals, the plant halted its regular production. In a gesture of goodwill, approximately 29 tonnes of liquid oxygen were offered free of charge to the Bihar government, benefiting the suffering citizens.