Further commenting on the completion of the first electric locomotive, Lafarge added, "This project stands as a shining example of Alstom's commitment to ‘Make in India'. Apart from creating thousands of jobs directly and indirectly, we have created a strong localised supply chain for this project, with 90% of the components for the prototype sourced locally."

Thanks to its 12,000 horsepower, each double section locomotive, part of Alstom's Prima locomotives family, has a hauling capacity of 6,000 tonnes and speed of 120km/hr, allowing faster and safer movement of heavier freight trains across the country, thereby reducing congestion for passenger train services and freight. Equipped with IGBT based propulsion technology, these locomotives will be compliant with Indian standards of freight transport and will have the ability to endure tough Indian climate and conditions. The locomotives were developed with the support of 6 Alstom sites in France: Belfort for the 6 first car bodyshells, and Ornans for the motors, Tarbes for the traction, Le Creusot for bogies, Villeurbanne for the train control monitoring systems and Saint-Ouen for the design.

In another significant development, Alstom announced three new contracts worth approximately €75 million - power supply contract from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), contract for new train sets from Chennai Metro Rail Corporation and another power supply contract from Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation. This development shows Alstom's growing footprint in the country, in both the urban space as well as the mainline space.

Additionally, phase 1 in the construction of the electric locomotive facility at Madhepura and the depot at Saharanpur is complete and work is progressing as per the contractual timelines. To give skilling and local hiring an impetus, focused efforts towards nurturing young minds in communities in and around Madhepura have been initiated. With the help of local NGOs, Alstom Foundation is working to foster better health care, education and dignified livelihood in the area.  

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