Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination (Topic: Integral Coach Factory)

Introduction

The Integral Coach Factory, also known as ICF is one of the oldest production units in independent India.It was inaugurated on 2 Oct, 1955 by the then Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru in Chennai.

ICF has manufactured more than 65000 coaches since its establishment.
In 2019-20, the factory produced the highest ever production of 4166 coaches, thereby emerging as the largest manufacturer of railway coaches in eth owrld.
In the time of pandemic 2021 -22 it has shown its importance by manufacturing 3101 coaches.

The coach factory has so far exported more than 800 coaches to various countries like Thailand, Myanmar, Taiwan, Zambia, Philippines, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Nigeria, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Malaysia, Angola and Sri Lanka.

ICF has taken several steps to protect the environment. Such as construction of green gardens at the side area of the road, installation of windmills and solar panels for the generation of electricity, etc.
ICF is a ‘Zero Discharge Factory’ and ‘Green Workshop’.
The Integral Coach Factory set up Green Houses in its premises in which environmental protective plants have been planted. There is also a ‘Pali House’ in its campus where the necessary seeds for plants and trees are researched.
ICF has became the only organisation in Indian railways to have completely Neutralize Green House Gas Emission due to its industrial activity and acheived Carbon Negative Status.

There are 9 teams of women empowerment in the coach factory premises in which 130 women are working continuously.
Renowned as the world’s leading and largest rail coach manufacturer, women involve in doing such a typical works that only men used to do.
Women of this team are handling difficult tasks like welding, fitting, harnessing, painting of motors and single phase motor winding.

In the year 2018-19, India’s first Semi High Speed Train-18 was produced by ICF which runs between New Delhi and Varanasi.
Promoting “Make in India”, this factory uses more than 80 % of the products which are completely domestic.
The first prototype Train-18 was produced in a record time of 18 months that is capable of traveling at a speed of 160 km/h within 140 seconds.
Indian Railway is planning to increase this speed up to 250 km/h which will require up-gradation of railway tr ack.
In addition to the construction of 75 trains by Aug. 2023, in this year’s budget 50000 Cr rupees have been allocated so that 400 Vande Bharat can be built in next three years.
It costs rupees 106 Cr to make this 16-coach train presently.

ICF has received the prestigious Greenco Gold level award under Green Company Rating System by Confederation of dInian Industry.
ICF also got the prestigious EN 15085 Certificate for Specific Welding Standards under Manufacturer of Railway Vehicles and Components. ICF is the first Indian Railway Production Unit to achieve such types of certification.