India has reached a significant milestone in locomotive manufacturing by producing 1,681 locomotives in the financial year 2024–25, overtaking regions such as the United States, Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia. This marks a new era of industrial capability and railway infrastructure expansion for the country, making it a global leader in locomotive production.
Compared to the previous financial year 2023–24, which saw the production of 1,472 locomotives, the current year has witnessed a 19% increase, adding 209 more units. This is not just a numerical rise—it reflects the cumulative efficiency, scale, and ambition of Indian Railways’ manufacturing ecosystem.
India’s performance in locomotive production over the past decade has been nothing short of extraordinary. From 2004 to 2014, the country produced 4,695 locomotives, averaging 470 units per year. However, with the push from the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the country manufactured 9,168 locomotives between 2014 and 2024, nearly doubling the annual average to 917 units.
This growth has not only enhanced India’s self-reliance but also strengthened its position on the global industrial map.
Each locomotive manufacturing unit in India played a crucial role in hitting this record figure. Here’s how the production was distributed across units for FY 2024–25:
This distribution shows the broad-based capacity across the country, highlighting decentralised yet coordinated industrial excellence.
The emphasis of Indian Railways remains firmly on supporting the freight network, which is integral to the country’s logistics and economic backbone. Among the 1,681 locomotives produced in FY 2024–25, a significant portion was freight locomotives:
Meanwhile, passenger variants such as WAP-5 (2 units) and WAP-7 (272 units) also formed a part of the fleet, along with 5 NRC locomotives.
With the production of 1,681 locomotives in a single financial year, India has set a new global benchmark in locomotive manufacturing. It not only showcases the operational success of Indian Railways but also underscores the long-term vision of transforming India into a global production hub through strategic initiatives like ‘Make in India’.
As the nation continues to prioritise infrastructure and manufacturing, milestones like this pave the way for India to lead—not follow—on the global railway stage.
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Published on: Apr 3, 2025, 3:01 PM IST
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