After the successful implementation of ticketing systems for Delhi Metro, France based firm, Thales is looking to bid for ‘many’ upcoming metro rail projects in the country.
Eric Lenseigne, country head and managing director of Thales India operations said:
“We are open to all options. Our first preference will be to do it independently. We can do it in partnership with local players also and through joint ventures.”
Thales is already providing communication based trans-control system for the third phase of the Delhi metro project and for Hyderabad metro. It will also be providing a train protection warning system for Indian Railways.
Thales will be competing with players like General Electric, Siemens, Bombardier and Alstom for signalling, ticketing and communication systems of metro and rail projects.
This comes after the panel report of Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Indian prime minister, which has suggested billions of dollar in investment for the Indian Railways system and according to an estimate more than $ 170 billion (Rs 822,671 crore) will be spent on modernising railways infrastructure in the next five years.
This includes $4 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) for upgrading signalling systems on existing routes and an additional $4 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) for installing state-of-the art signalling systems for bullet trains.
Looking at the huge potential, Thales is also targeting a 50 per cent their revenues from the Indian transport sector.
Having offices in Mumbai, Kochi, Gwalior, Bangalore, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Hyderabad and Lucknow, Thales currently employs about 250 people in India and would double the personnel count in the next five years.
Yes I know this, but if India will done it Independently then it is better and also save extra expense.