Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) has got 4 per cent Value Added Tax exemption — in value terms Rs 58 crore — from Karnataka Government for supplying coaches to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation.
“This gesture of Karnataka Government makes us competitive both in the international and domestic markets,” said Mr V.R.S. Natarajan, Chairman and Managing Director, BEML.
The company was assured of the concession for five years a few years ago. The State Government had told BEML that the concession would kick-in from the date of delivery of the first rail car. A similar relief was given to BEML when it supplied Metro coaches to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
BEML today handed over seven sets (three cars each) of coaches to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation.
A few years ago, BEML had bagged the order for supplying 150 coaches, valued at about Rs 1,672 crore from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation.
Bangalore Metro (Namma Metro) is being executed by a BEML-led consortium. The consortium includes Mitsubishi and Hyundai-Rotem. While Mitsubishi will supply the traction for the coaches, Hyundai-Rotem will supply components. BEML will integrate, test and commission the coaches.
“We are looking forward to bagging intermediate coach orders from them. Work on this will commence shortly. The company is also looking forward for extension of Metro project to link Kolar and Mysore in the future,” said Mr Natarajan.
Receiving the coaches, Mr Sivasailam, Managing Director, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, said: “BEML has given us good support, especially during the trial phase. We have asked them to provide a direct link to their depot for servicing of Metro coaches and also during emergencies.”
The company is also the frontrunner in the bid for supplying Metro coaches to Jaipur Metro.
Mr Natarajan said: “The Jaipur Metro has called tenders for 40 coaches, and gradually it plans to increase it to 100 coaches.”
Recently, the company bagged order from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to supply 136 intermediate Metro cars valued at Rs 918 crore.