India’s leading private railway wagon manufacturing company, Titagarh Wagons Ltd, is keen to build portable steel bridges in Bangladesh, officials said.
The company has recently submitted an expression of interest to the Board of Investment (BOI) of Bangladesh.
“We received the proposal of the company early last week. After scrutinizing the details, the decision for registration will be taken,” said an official of BOI.
Bangladesh, on an average, imports 400 to 500 metres of portable bridges every other year as it does not produce steel suitable for steel-made bridges.
In 2009, Japan had provided Bangladesh materials for constructing 92 portable steel bridge projects at 68 upazilas and 17 districts in three phases.
It gave financial assistance for improving the road communication in riverine and low-lying areas of the country through constructing portable steel bridges.
Under the first phase (1994-1996), 74 portable steel bridges were constructed while 80 were constructed in the second phase (2000-2003). For the third phase (2005-2007), a total of 1990 million Japanese yen was granted.
Titagarh Wagons has also bagged two flat car wagons and brake van orders from Bangladesh worth $12m this year, said an official.
Incorporated in 1997-98, the company is primarily engaged in the business of manufacturing railway wagons and EMUs (coaches), bailey bridges, heavy earth moving and mining equipment, steel and SG iron castings of moderate to complex configuration.
Besides being the leading manufacturer of wagons in India as a group, it has recently marked its presence in international markets by setting up Titagarh Wagons AFR, a subsidiary in France having acquired assets and business of manufacture of rolling stock.
