Kolkata: City-based Jupiter Wagons is setting up a new manufacturing plant in Hooghly district dedicated to producing Vande Bharat and Metro coaches, making it Bengal’s second facility for railway rolling stock after Titagarh Rail Systems’ plant at Uttarpara, which began production last year in a joint venture with BHEL.“The new plant where we are going to make Vande Bharat, Metro and other passenger coaches will come up in Hooghly district. We will disclose its exact location later,” company chairman ML Lohia told TOI.He said the plant was one of several new projects in the pipeline as the company targets revenue growth from Rs 3,000 crore currently to Rs 5,000 crore in 2027-28 and Rs 10,000 crore by 2028-29.Founded in 2006, Jupiter Wagons operates nine manufacturing facilities across the country, including two in Bengal — at Bandel and Taratala. With the new state govt drawing up plans to revive Kolkata’s tram network, the company is also positioning itself for tram manufacturing contracts.“Previously, we had manufactured tram tracks. It’s good news that the govt is reviving the tram network and we are ready to manufacture tram cars and tracks — we are waiting for the opportunity,” Lohia said.Outside Bengal, the company is setting up an integrated axle and wheel manufacturing facility in Odisha on 100 acres in collaboration with a German partner, at an investment of Rs 3,000 crore.Axle manufacturing is expected to begin in Dec, with wheel production following by 2027. Lohia said all upcoming projects would involve foreign investment, with 50% of output targeted for export.The company is also exploring entry into the defence sector — manufacturing components for T-90 tanks and 155mm barrels — and is scouting land in Odisha and Assam for the project.On the core wagons business, Lohia said demand was expected to pick up next year. The company is manufacturing commodity-specific wagons for coal, steel, cement, automobiles and iron ore.Jupiter Wagons is also planning a sports-focused data centre with a Rs 100 crore investment over the next five years.
