Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the first-ever export locomotive manufactured at the Marhowra plant in Bihar’s Saran district on Friday, marking a major milestone under the “Make in India – Make for the World” initiative. The state-of-the-art locomotive is bound for the Republic of Guinea in West Africa.
According to a release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), this is the inaugural export from the facility, which had previously supplied locomotives exclusively for Indian Railways. The advanced diesel locomotive features high-horsepower engines, AC propulsion technology, regenerative braking, ergonomic cab designs, and smart control systems.
Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity at the Railway Board, highlighted the significance of the development. “This is a dream project of Indian Railways. With expanded capacity, we’re now stepping into the global locomotive market. We’ve received an order from Guinea for 150 standard gauge locomotives to support their iron ore mining operations,” he told ANI.
He added that standard gauge locomotives, now produced alongside broad gauge models at Marhowra, are in high demand across regions like Western Europe, Africa, and Australia. The facility has been upgraded to meet this international demand and has generated employment for 2,000 to 2,500 individuals, most of whom are from Bihar.
Sandeep, Managing Director of Wabtec India, the company operating the plant in partnership with Indian Railways, said the locomotives will play a critical role in Guinea’s Simandou Project — one of the world’s largest iron ore ventures. “The iron ore will be transported over 620 km by rail to a port for global export. These locomotives will operate around the clock, and this project could be a benchmark for future collaborations,” he noted.
Wabtec holds a 75% equity stake in the Marhowra venture, while Indian Railways holds the remaining 25%. Since its inception, the plant has delivered 726 locomotives to Indian Railways, and now 150 more are scheduled for export.
“Over 99% of the workforce at Marhowra is from Bihar. This project has empowered more than 1,500 local workers,” Sandeep added.
PM Modi’s visit to Bihar will also include a series of major infrastructure launches. In Siwan, he will inaugurate the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line worth over ₹400 crore and flag off a new train service on the route. He will also launch the Patliputra–Gorakhpur Vande Bharat Express via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah.
Further strengthening his government’s focus on environmental sustainability, PM Modi will inaugurate six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange mission, valued at over ₹1,800 crore. Additionally, he will lay the foundation stone for STP and sanitation projects worth ₹3,000 crore across Bihar, as well as a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to boost power infrastructure in the state.
