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Indian Railways will incur an extra expenditure of about Rs.400 crores in the current financial year 2004-2005 on procurement of steel on account of steep hike in the prices of steel.
The Railways consume 1.4 million tonnes of steel per annum. It is also the biggest consumer of steel in the country.
The Railways are working out a substitute of steel for manufacturing of wagons and coaches despite the fact that there is no substitute of steel.
However, it has been decided to manufacture aluminium wagons in a limited way. During 2005-2006, the railways will manufacture 750 four-wheeler units of aluminium wagons, to begin with. Aluminium wagons are light weight, corrosion proof and designed to haul heavier freight.
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