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BEML to expand infrastructure With metro rail being rolled out in many cities and construction work on the high-speed freight corridor on track, premier ground support equipment major BEML is gearing up to position itself as a leading manufacturer of modern coaches to exploit the huge opportunity in the sector. BEML Chairman and Managing Director, V R S Natarajan said that nearly 2,000 metro cars would be required in next four to five years for the upcoming metro rail projects in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad and the company has now set its sight to emerge as a major player in building rail coaches. "There is a huge opportunity coming up to supply metro rail coaches as nearly 2,000 metro cars will be required for many projects and accordingly we have strengthened our infrastructure to increase production," he said. Noting that Railways' Dedicated Freight Corridor would throw open huge business opportunity for the company, the head of the defence PSU said the company is now looking for an overseas joint venture partner to bring in high end technology to manufacture various types of high-end boogies. "We want to gain from the high business potential in the Dedicated Freight Corridor project," Natarajan told the media. He said talks with a German company are at a final stage and if the JV company intends to pick up some stake, the BEML would be willing to offer it. Presenting the Railway budget, Lalu Prasad on Tuesday said construction of the eastern and western freight corridors, which are a part of the high density Golden Quadrilateral network, will commence in 2008-09.