Boycott China: Tender for 44 Vande Bharat trains cancelled

New Delhi : India has cancelled the tender of 44 semi-high speed trains – Vande Bharat – for companies in collaboration with Chinese companies. The Railway Ministry will be issuing fresh tenders within a week in compliance with 'Make in India' programme.

This comes as a major setback for China and Chinese companies operating in India. CRRC Pioneer Electric (India) Pvt Ltd was the only foreign bidder among the six contenders to supply 44 sets of semi-high speed train.

"Tender for manufacturing of 44 nos of semi high speed train sets (Vande Bharat) has been cancelled. Fresh tender will be floated within a week as per Revised Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) order," the Railway Ministry tweeted.

The railways is ensuring that the local makers take the new tender; soon after realizing that the Chinese joint venture was a frontrunner for the project, it was scrapped, news agency PTI reported quoting unnamed sources.

The other five bidders were Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Bharat Industries, Sangrur, Electrowaves Electronics Pvt Ltd, Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd, and Powernetics Equipment India Pvt Ltd, according to the Railway Ministry.

The trade ties with China and Chinese companies have become stringent after tensions across the LAC.