A five-member delegation from South Africa led by Shri Shivapragasen Naidoo, Chief Executive Officer, M/s Tsiko Africa Energy & Infrastructure, South Africa visited Banaras Locomotive Works on 01.09.2025 to review the facilities and capabilities of loco manufacturing at BLW. The main objective of the visit of the South African delegation to BLW is to purchase 3100 horsepower broad gauge Alco locomotives serving in Indian Railways after conversion to Cape gauge. For which the delegation took technical information of the loco, saw the production and design capabilities of BLW.

This five-member delegation included Shri Shivapragasen Naidoo, Ms. Mesela Mary Nhlapo, Shri Ivan Prinsloo, Shri Munish Gupta and Shri Vaugn Johan Christiaan Eck. First of all, Chief Mechanical Engineer-Production and Marketing Mr. Sunil Kumar welcomed the delegation on their arrival at BLW. Thereafter, principal Chief Electrical Engineer Mr. Sushil Kumar Srivastava met the delegation in the presence of senior officers.

Then the delegation visited the workshop to take stock of the facilities and capabilities of loco manufacturing. During this, the delegation first visited various shops including Light Machine Shop, Sub Assembly Shop, Engine Erection Shop, Engine Test Shop, Loco Frame Shop, Loco Assembly Shop, Loco Test Shop, New Block Shop and became aware of the various stages of loco manufacturing.

After the workshop visit, a detailed presentation was given to the delegation on BLW's production processes, manufacturing facilities and current projects through a power point presentation. They were told about BLW's history, manpower efficiency and its capability in locomotive manufacturing. The delegation seemed quite impressed with the design capabilities and manufacturing facilities available at BLW. On this occasion, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer Mr Vivek Sheel, Chief Mechanical Engineer-Production and Marketing Mr Sunil Kumar and a large number of BLW officials were present.

Source/RSB