New Delhi, June 15: The Comptroller and Auditor General has pulled up the railways for failing to ensure maintenance and periodical overhauls of the imported 6000 hp locomotives, which it says cost the administration about Rs 95 crore. "Failure of railway administration to ensure maintenance and periodical overhaul (POh) requirement of eighteen 6000 hp WAG-6 locomotives imported at a cost of Rs 200 crore resulted in their premature stabling,” the CAG report presented in parliament said.
As a result, it said, the railway administration suffered a loss of Rs 18.43 crore on account of avoidable procurement of stores (spare parts) besides a loss of Rs 77.37 crore towards earning capacity of these locos.
While six of these locos were bought from M/s ASEA, Sweden, 12 locomotives were procured from M/s Hitachi from Sumitomo Corporation, Japan.
In view of the difficulties, the railway board sent a three member delegation headed by chief electrical engineer, South Eastern Railway to Queensland Railway, Australia to study maintenance and operational problems of locos similar to WAG-6 which were in operation in Queensland Railway.
The delegation after its visit recommended entering into an agreement with Queensland Railway for transfer of know-how for maintenance of these locos, the CAG report said.
It also suggested sending a team of railway officers from electrical stores and account departments to United Kingdom, France, Germany and other European countries to identify sources for supply of spares for these locos, it said. Bureau Report