"All these manufacturers attended the pre-bid conference last month. Some clarifications were sought by the prospective bidders which were addressed in the meeting," said a senior Railways Ministry official.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affiars (CCEA) had approved the Rs 1,293 crore greenfield project spread across 450 hectares.

"The Railways will procure land and lease it to the successful bidder for the manufacture of 120 next-generation locomotives in a year," said the official adding the land acquisition process is on.

British consultancy firm Mott Macdonald has been engaged to prepare bid documents for the procurement. As a special railway joint venture project, it envisages manufacturing locos with 12,000 HP to carry 5,000 tonnes of freight at 100 km per hour on all terrains.

Currently, the Railways have electric locomotives with maximum horse power of 6,000. The electric locomotive factory at Madhepura in Bihar for production and supply of electric locomotives on the basis of a long-term procurement-cum- maintenance contract.

"Besides the manufacture of latest electric locomotives, the successful bidder will also be responsible for its long- term maintenance," said the official adding the qualification bid is likely to open later this month.