Hindalco Industries will invest about 2,000 crore in a project that involves an alliance with Italian company Metra SpA for its tech expertise in making coaches for Vande Bharat and other trains. The tie-up will help the Aditya Birla Group's flagship metals company produce aluminum fabrication and extrusion for high-speed railway coaches. "This is in line with our capability building for aluminum in commercial vehicles, freight wagons, electric vehicles, and passenger train applications," said Satish Pai, managing director for Hindalco Industries.

"Our combined expertise will undoubtedly enhance the efficiency, durability, and sustainable performance of these trains and set new benchmarks for the Indian rail industry," he said. Extruded aluminium helps reduce the weight of aluminium which improves speed and helps in cutting down on carbon emissions. Italy's Metra has been making aluminum extrusions for six decades and specializes in railway extrusions and fabrication. "Collaborating with Hindalco Industries presents an exciting opportunity to showcase the capabilities of our aluminum extrusion technology on a global stage," Enrico Zampedri, the CEO of Metra SpA.

Vande Bharat trains, which are currently running on select routes in India, run at more than 200 km per hour, using aluminum in their coaches for high speed. While the initial cost of aluminum coaches is higher, it leads to savings in the long run. Hindalco Industries rolled out India's first aluminum freight rake last year and plans to introduce three more designs of freight wagons in the months ahead.