IN A significant development for the Bhopal Railway Division and local commuters, the muchanticipated Intermediate Overhauling (IOH) shed at Rani Kamalapati (RKMP) Station has been completed. This state-ofthe-art facility, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 10.90 crore, is slated to become fully operational in the first or second week of February. Railway officials have confirmed that all technical hurdles have been cleared, and the facility is currently undergoing final testing and finishing touches. Once commissioned, the shed will mark a major milestone in making the Bhopal Division entirely self-reliant for intensive coach maintenance and technical repairs. End of logistics hurdles: The primary advantage of this new facility is the elimination of the long-standing dependency on the Jhansi Workshop and other distant coach factories for wheel turning and major repairs.

 

Until now, coaches had to be sent out of the division for specialised maintenance, a process that often led to logistical delays and impacted train rotation. Spanning an area of 50 by 15 square meters, the RKMP shed is designed to handle two coaches daily, ensuring that the division no longer faces the compulsion of moving assets to remote locations for intermediate overhauling. Boon for Vande Bharat and LHB coaches: The commissioning of this shed is expected to be a major boon for premium trains, particularly the Vande Bharat Express and other trains equipped with Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches. These advanced coaches require precise maintenance that will now be handled locally. The cornerstone of this facility is the hightech CNC Underfloor Wheel Lathe machine, which allows for wheel turning without the need to lift the coach from the track.

 

This revolutionary technology will slash the maintenance turnaround time from the traditional 10 to 15 days down to a mere 48 hours, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and coach availability. Beyond time savings, the automated systems within the shed offer substantial technical and economic benefits. The CNCbased precision in wheel profiling results in reduced noise levels during transit and a much smoother ride for passengers by eliminating jerks. Furthermore, the automated crane system allows for seamless shifting of heavy coaches across tracks. A ‘game-changer’ for Bhopal Division: Describing the project as a milestone, PRO Naval Agrawal added, “This is a game-changer. By handling wheel profiling and IOH locally, we save significant manpower and time, ensuring more coaches are available for service. We are fully prepared for a February launch.”