Indian Railways has awarded a ₹34.85 crore contract to a consortium led by Airfloa Rail Technology Limited and Italy-based BLUE Engineering S.r.l. for the interior design and associated development work for the Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset. The contract was awarded by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, with the consortium required to complete the assignment within 12 months of receiving the Letter of Acceptance (LoA).
The contract covers interior design for one Vande Bharat Sleeper trainset and the development of a full-scale mock-up. Airfloa will lead the consortium, bringing together its railway engineering capabilities and BLUE Engineering’s design expertise.
₹34.85 Crore Contract Covers Design and Development
The contract value of ₹34.85 crore includes GST. Of this amount, approximately ₹30.93 crore is allocated to interior design, while around ₹3.93 crore covers associated development activities. The work is intended to support the design and development requirements of the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train.
The assignment expands Airfloa’s role in railway projects beyond manufacturing components and furnishing interiors to include the design of an entire trainset’s interior. Its previous railway-related work includes interior furnishing and engineering for Vande Bharat Express trains, Vistadome coaches, the Agra–Kanpur Metro, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and export coaches for Sri Lanka.
Airfloa and BLUE Engineering Join Hands
Airfloa Rail Technology will serve as the lead member of the consortium, while BLUE Engineering, based in Italy, will contribute its engineering and design capabilities. The partnership combines domestic railway-sector experience with international technical expertise for the project.
The 12-month execution period begins from the date of the LoA. The available contract details do not specify separate interim milestones or a precise completion date.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Programme Expands
The Vande Bharat Sleeper trainsets are being developed to improve long- and medium-distance overnight rail travel in India. The programme is part of Indian Railways’ wider effort to modernise passenger services through new-generation rolling stock and improved onboard facilities.
The interior design and mock-up work will contribute to the trainset development process. The latest contract also creates an opportunity for Airfloa to deepen its involvement in specialised railway engineering and for the consortium to support the development of India’s next-generation sleeper trains.
