In a significant milestone for India’s rail infrastructure and the government’s “Make in India” push, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the rollout of the first electric locomotive from the Dahod factory—an ambitious project he had inaugurated three years ago.

The occasion marked the inauguration and foundation-laying of multiple infrastructure initiatives collectively worth thousands of crores. However, it was the Dahod Electric Locomotive Factory that took centre stage, symbolising a breakthrough in India’s drive toward modern, indigenous railway manufacturing.

The Prime Minister highlighted the skepticism and criticism that had initially surrounded the Dahod project, particularly because its foundation stone was laid around election season. At the time, detractors questioned the feasibility and intent of the initiative, dismissing it as mere political posturing. But three years on, with the first electric engine rolling out of the facility, the project has emerged as a testament to timely delivery and infrastructural transformation.

The Dahod plant, which is part of the Indian Railways' strategy to expand its electric locomotive fleet, is set to enhance railway efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Once operating at full capacity, the factory is expected to produce hundreds of high-powered electric engines annually, supporting both freight and passenger operations.