Chennai: With steel prices firming up, Indian Railways will manufacture aluminium wagons in a limited way. Aluminium wagons are light weight, corrosion proof and designed to haul heavier freight. During 2005-06, the railways will roll out 750 four-wheeler of aluminium wagons.

The spurt in steel prices will cost the Indian Railways an additional Rs400 crore this fiscal. The Railways, the biggest consumer of steel in the country, uses around 1.4 million tonne of steel per annum. Substitutes for steel is actively sought out by the organisation for building wagons and coaches.

It has been decided to manufacture aluminium wagons in a limited way. During 2005-2006, the railways will manufacture 750 four-wheeler units of aluminium wagons, to begin with.