Vision 2020 - Transportation Research Group of India

Government of India
Ministry of Railways
(Railway Board)
and outside), CCTV at stations, multi-lingual magazines for rail passengers and merchandising opportunities for
a number of items ranging from tickets to food stuff and other material served on trains offer promising
possibilities for advertising. Railways can also think of launching a separate TV channel to disseminate
information and earn revenues through advertisement.
(c) COMMERCIAL USE OF RAILWAY LAND
Similarly, commercial utilization of vacant railway land, not required for operational use, can generate
sustainable streams of revenue to finance the growth of Railways. This will be done in a professional, transparent
and accountable manner. Some of such land may also be utilized for setting up of schools, medical colleges,
nursing colleges, etc. where wards of railway employees will have priority in admission.
(d) TELECOM & IT
Our Vision is also to tap similar revenue generation potential in the telecom and IT sector, using the 64,000-kmlong
'right of way' for laying optic fibres, signaling towers and other infrastructure assets that Indian Railways
owns. This will be done in collaboration between the Railtel Corporation and private sector companies in a
transparent framework.
6.4 TECHNOLOGICAL EXCELLENCE
Technology is an integral part of the Vision to move Indian Railways towards the goals set out. Some of the areas
for which technology will be used are:
nDesign of modern coaches including Double Decker coaches.
nRe-design of second class coaches to make them more comfortable.
nDesign of high-capacity wagons.
nReduction in cost of operations by enhancing productivity and asset life.
nTrack, signaling and rolling stock including predictive and diagnostic tools, anti-collision devices and
protection of level crossings for improvement in safety and reliability of operations to achieve zero accidents
and zero failure in equipments.
nRaising the speed of trains.
nImprovement of the interface with passengers and freight customers.
nTicketing through mobile phones.
nImprovement of control and voice/video communication to aid IT applications across the Indian Railways.
nA satellite-based train tracking system to provide real-time information on train location and other train
related information to passengers through a variety of devices including mobile phones.
nGreen toilets in all coaches
nMechanical cleaning of trains, stations and platforms with requisite training to railway employees to use
technology for maximum recycling of water.
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