India marked a new era in railway innovation with the launch of its first 9000 HP electric locomotive, D-9, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26 in Dahod, Gujarat.
Developed under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, the high-powered engine will be maintained at key depots, including Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Built at the newly inaugurated Dahod Loco Manufacturing Shop, D-9 is designed to haul 4,600 tonnes at an average speed of 75 kmph. Equipped with regenerative braking, AC cabins, and onboard toilets, the six-axle freight engine is built for efficiency and pilot comfort.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called the D-9 a “low-cost, high-quality engine with no noise or vibration,” highlighting its potential for export. Maintenance will be handled across key locations in Visakhapatnam, Kharagpur, Raipur, and Pune, ensuring a national support network. The Dahod facility, set up under a ₹21,000 crore Public-Private Partnership, aims to manufacture 1,200 such locomotives over the next decade. The units will bear the ‘Manufactured in Dahod’ tag, aligning with India’s push to emerge as a global manufacturing hub for sustainable rail infrastructure.
The D-9 marks Indian Railways’ next leap in freight capability, symbolising industrial self-reliance and global ambition.
