Mon Jun 23 15:00:47 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The Indian Railways is defending its decision to award a ₹26,000 crore contract to Siemens for manufacturing and maintaining 9,000 hp electric locomotives at Dahod, Gujarat. The Congress party is alleging a lack of transparency in the tender process, questioning why Siemens was chosen over competitors like Alstom, and raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest due to the current Railways Minister’s prior employment at Siemens. Indian Railways insists the tender was conducted fairly, with both Siemens and Alstom being technically qualified, and the lowest bidder winning the contract. They also highlight the growing domestic manufacturing ecosystem and deny any conflict of interest, stating the Minister wasn’t involved in the evaluation process.
**News Article:**
**Indian Railways Defends ₹26,000 Crore Siemens Locomotive Contract Amid Transparency Concerns**
**New Delhi – June 23, 2025** – Indian Railways is facing scrutiny over the awarding of a ₹26,000 crore contract to Siemens Limited for the manufacture and maintenance of 9,000 horsepower (hp) electric locomotives at Dahod, Gujarat. The Congress party has launched a sharp critique, alleging a lack of transparency in the tender process and calling for a parliamentary inquiry.
At a press conference earlier today, former Congress MP Brijendra Singh questioned why Siemens was chosen over other qualified contenders like Alstom, which already has a proven track record with 12,000 hp locomotives and technology sharing. He also raised concerns that critical components are being manufactured outside of Dahod, undermining the government’s vision of the site becoming a full-fledged manufacturing hub.
“The public has no way of knowing whether companies like Alstom or Bombardier were given a fair opportunity or not,” Singh stated.
The Congress party further highlighted potential conflict of interest concerns, noting that current Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw previously held a high-level position at Siemens India.
In response, an Indian Railways spokesperson vehemently defended the tender process, stating it was conducted transparently and in accordance with established procedures.
“The tender for manufacturing and maintaining 9,000 hp electric locomotives was executed in a transparent manner. Both Alstom and Siemens – the only two global manufacturers with the capability to design and manufacture 9,000 hp locomotives – participated,” the spokesperson said.
According to Railways, both companies were deemed technically qualified, and Siemens won the contract due to submitting the lowest financial bid. The spokesperson also refuted claims of limited domestic manufacturing, asserting that approximately 89% of the components used are made in India.
Regarding conflict of interest allegations, the Railways spokesperson stated: “There was no involvement of the Minister of Railways in the tender evaluation process. The entire tender process was executed by teams of officers who are technically and financially competent to handle such matters as per rules.”
The controversy surrounding the locomotive contract underscores the increasing political scrutiny of major infrastructure projects and the importance of transparency in government procurement processes. The debate is likely to continue as the Congress party presses for a parliamentary inquiry into the matter.
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