Make In India, Mumbai’s 1st “Indian Made” train.

Riding on PM Modi’s “Make In India” initiative, commuters in Mumbai will get to travel on the first train that is wholly made in India, including the electric control circuitry. It’s called the Medha system and is more than a crore cheaper than the Bombardier rakes that now run on the Western Railway that serves 35 lakh commuters daily on its suburban services.

Indian railways procures control circuit technology from foreign companies such as Siemens and Bombardier and this is the first time it has been is developed in India, which will bring down costs. A Medha rake costs Rs43.23 crore now against a Bombardier’s Rs44.36. The Medha will cost even less if more are ordered, said a Western Railway spokesperson.

The WR have received two Medha 12-car rakes of which one will be inducted in service on Saturday. However, this does not mean additional services to commuters as the train will be operated for existing services only.