ICF all set to beautify Chennai through artefacts developed by scrap materials

After achieving a landmark feat by production of 2,500 train coaches last fiscal, the Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF), is now looking towards beautifying the metropolitan by providing artefacts developed by scrap materials at every nook and corner, revitalising water bodies, a world class theatre and above all an international stadium in the name of hockey legend Mohammad Shahid.

Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee Mohammad Shahid (April 14, 1960 -July 20, 2016) was known for his dribbling skills and was a member of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. The coming up of Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in the name of Varanasi born Mohammad Shahid is being regarded a lot within the citizens of this south Indian city.

“While he has many feathers to his cap and is loved across the country, Mohammad Shahid has a railway connection too as he was sports officer at Varanasi. Hence what could be a better tribute to the legendary in having a world class facility stadium at Chennai in his name,” said ICF General Manager Sudhanshu Mani who first proposed to the Railway Ministry for this second stadium in ICF campus. The stadium is likely to be commissioned on September 1 jointly by Shahid’s wife Parveen and hockey legend Ajit Pal Singh.

Further, what has brought more attraction amongst the citizens are the scrap material art works done by ICF employees. From the narration of Clean India campaign to artifacts expressing non-violence, from a huge tree to the puppets, the city has been adorned with them.  “These are nothing else than a very generous way to narrate ethics and significantly wealth out of waste,” Mani added.

The ICF has also taken up to rejuvenate a few lakes and ponds and water bodies within the city and has sought cooperation from municipal bodies without asking for any financial grants from any stakeholders. ICF has also completely offset the emission and also become the first organisation of Indian Railways to achieve Carbon Negative status.

But the coach factory is also looking towards monetising its assets like in making of a world class theatre with the latest audio and video systems with a seating capacity of 90 at the Chennai Rail Museum. Museum sources said that there is no other theater like this one in entire southern India and once fully operational the facility can be used for premiere movies or special screenings in this cinema loving city. 

ICF now aims to create a world record by manufacturing more than 3200 train coaches in current financial year, which is a quantum jump of 30 percent. “With the unstinted support of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani we are now looking to set world record in coach making, with a number of new product variations in the pipeline for the coming year. The state-of-the-art Train Sets will be rolled out from this production unit by next month. The Ministry has assigned us many other tasks related to coach productions. By 2020, ICF has planned on introducing Train 20 aluminum body train set,” Mani told The Pioneer.