“Corona-virus” outbreak in Italy halts the manufacturing process of aluminium-body Pune Metro coaches: Titagarh Firema S.P.A.

Titagarh Wagons of India, the major stakeholder of Italy’s Titagarh Firema S.P.A., has announced the deferment of the inauguration of manufacturing the prototype of the new aluminium-bodied Pune Metro coaches. The plant operation has been suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy.

The commencement of the prototype manufacturing was supposed to set in motion on 8^th April’20. It was adjourned as the complete operations of the factory were halted till 31^st March’20 post an advisory from the Italian government.

In August’19 Titagarh Firema S.P.A. secured an INR.1100 crore international bid to deliver Pune Metro rail as many as 102 avant-garde aluminium-bodied coaches.

The Kolkata city (in India) based wagon maker Titagarh Wagons Ltd took over Italy’s Firema Trasporti in 2015 and renamed it Titagarh Firema S.P.A.

Umesh Chowdhary, MD, Titagarh Wagons said: "We had planned inauguration for the commencement of making of the Pune Metro coach prototype on April 8. But, now it gets delayed due to the outbreak.”

On 16^th March’20 Italy has reported 349 new deaths from the deadly coronavirus, reaching its total from last month to 2158, and the highest after China.

Mr Chowdhary added: “The supply chain got disrupted and turnout of employees was low. We don't know how soon operation would get normalized.”

The secured contract states for a total of 34 rakes, having three coaches each, which will be supplied by the firm in 160 weeks.

As per the terms, 90% of the coaches would be made in India but it will take off only after the prototypes arrive from Italy.

The company's Italian subsidiary has lowered its operational losses in the nine months of 2019-20 to ₹8.6 crores from ₹17.3 crores in the year-ago period.

Chowdhary concluded: "We were expecting profit in 2021 backed by huge orders book worth 300 million Euros.”