SAIL and RITES Sign MoU for diesel locomotive leasing and maintenance

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna CPSE has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) , a Navratna CPSE to strengthen logistics and operational efficiency at plants and mines of SAIL.

SAIL runs a dedicated mini rail network within its plants and mines premises to ensure seamless transportation of inbound raw materials, in-process transfers and outbound finished products. The effective maintenance of its diesel locomotive fleet, supplemented by wet leased locos, is critical for sustaining operations and driving the envisaged expansion of capacity and future growth.

As Indian Railways accelerates its transition to electric locomotives, RITES continues to provide valuable expertise in diesel locomotive operations and maintenance, an area essential for sustaining SAIL’s diesel fleet. With access to Indian Railways’ facilities, spares and a pool of skilled manpower, RITES is well positioned to support SAIL’s operational requirements and ensure reliability across its network.

The collaboration will enable both organizations to focus on their core competencies, optimize costs, enhance operational efficiencies and contribute to reducing carbon footprint. The MoU was signed by Shri P.K. Baisakhiya, Executive Director (Operations), SAIL and Shri Sandeep Jain, Executive Director (Technical Services), RITES, in the presence of senior officials from SAIL and RITES.