Chittaranjan Locomotive Works


Chittaranjan Locomotive Works is an Indian state-owned electric locomotive manufacturer. The works are located at Chittaranjan in the Asansol Sadar subdivision of West Bengal, with an ancillary unit in Dankuni. The main unit is 32 km from Asansol’s City Bus Terminus and 237 km from Kolkata. CLW has stores and offices in Kolkata, as well as inspection cells in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangalore. It is the largest locomotive manufacturer unit in the world. In FY 2024–25, it produced 700 locomotives surpassing the United States and Europe.
WWW clw.indianrailways.gov.in

History

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works has been named after the great freedom fighter, leader and statesmen Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. A new survey led to the present site at Chittaranjan being established, which was approved by the railway board in 1947. A survey of the proposed area began on 9 January 1948; the rocky soil was an advantage in erecting structural foundations, and the undulating terrain solved the problem of drainage for the township. The Damodar Valley Corporation envisioned hydro-electric and thermal power stations in the area, assuring adequate power availability for the project.
The project was launched as Loco Building Works in 1950 to produce 120 average-sized steam locomotives. It also had the capacity to manufacture 50 spare boilers. Production of steam locomotives commenced on 26 January 1950. The first President of India, Rajendra Prasad, dedicated the first steam locomotive to the nation on 1 November 1950, and on the same day, the Loco Building Works was renamed as Chittaranjan Locomotive Works after Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. The nearby Mihijam Station was also renamed as Chittaranjan.