RITES, an engineering consultancy corporation, has secured a purchase order valued at USD 3.6 million from African Rail Company for the supply and commissioning of two fully overhauled ALCO diesel-electric locomotives. The locomotives are intended for deployment in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Botswana, and are scheduled to be delivered within nine months.
The order includes the supply of refurbished cape gauge ALCO locomotives equipped with new bogies, traction motors, control systems, and air brake systems. The contract also covers commissioning support and warranty services through the deputation of a technical team from RITES.
According to the company, the order does not constitute a related party transaction, and neither the promoter nor any group companies have any interest in the awarding entity.
RITES Ltd., formerly known as Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited, is an Indian public sector undertaking and engineering consultancy corporation specializing in transport infrastructure. Established in 1974 by Indian Railways, RITES has diversified its operations significantly, serving clients in India and over 60 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, South America, and the Middle East.
RITES offers a range of services across the lifecycle of infrastructure projects, including techno-economic viability studies, project management consultancy, detailed project reports, construction supervision, design engineering, quality assurance, transaction advisory, feasibility studies, technical audits, procurement assistance, surveys, operations and maintenance, and training programs. It also undertakes turnkey construction projects covering design, supply, installation, and commissioning of railway infrastructure, electrification, institutional buildings, and renewable energy projects.
The company serves as the export arm of Indian Railways for rolling stock and spares and also provides locomotive leasing services. Its sectoral expertise spans railways, metros, highways, tunnels, bridges, ports, harbours, airports, land ports, ropeways, institutional infrastructure, renewable energy, and urban planning.
Notable recent projects in India include rail connectivity for Mahanadi Coalfields and NMDC, final location surveys for high-speed corridors between Hyderabad–Bengaluru and Hyderabad–Chennai, DPR and consultancy work for metro systems in multiple cities, and the redevelopment of Tumakuru station. RITES has also been involved in international projects such as the East Bank–East Coast Road extension in Guyana, export of passenger coaches to Sri Lanka, locomotive spares to Myanmar, highway consultancy in Bangladesh, and metro supervision in Mauritius. The company has previously executed railway rehabilitation and consultancy projects in countries including Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe.
RITES operates primarily through its consultancy business, which accounts for a significant share of its revenue. It is a Navratna Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways and has been listed on the NSE and BSE since July 2018. The company’s diversified business model enables it to manage risks across infrastructure sectors while delivering engineering and consultancy services for transport projects worldwide.