Vision 2020 - Transportation Research Group of India

Government of India
Ministry of Railways
(Railway Board)
locations will be undertaken to eliminate the possibility of trespass onto the track.
Security on stations and running trains and patrolling of tracks on vulnerable areas would be beefed up to
safeguard passengers and rail-users from the threat of accidents arising from miscreant activities.
6.3 Technological leap
Role of technology in an industry like Railways can not be overstated. Technology plays a crucial role in
enhancing productivity, asset life, safety and reliability of operations as also the interface and experience of
customers. It is also a source of significant cost and competitive advantage. Some of the key areas for which
technological solutions would need to be found include improving the comfort of passengers, in particular,
second- class passengers, development of green toilets and safe, clean coaches, double -decker inter-city
trains, improvement in the payload/carrying capacity of freight rolling- stock, improvement in safety and reliability
of operations, raising the speed of trains and interface with passenger and freight customers. Technology can
also be used for mechanized cleaning of trains and stations while conserving water and for adopting sound
waste-management practices. The key challenges in technology are:
a) Adoption of the best , state-of-art and cost-effective technologies in all facets of railway operationsconstruction
and maintenance of infrastructure and rolling stock , use of information technology to monitor
performance and improve the ease and access in using railway services on the part of customers,
b) Finding the most optimal route of adoption and diffusion of technology;
c) Adaptation of technology to Indian conditions and continuous upgradation to stay ahead of the race in the
technological cycle;
d) Recruitment and training of employees for continuous upgradation of skills to match the requirement of
challenging pace of change in technology;
e) Ushering in a culture of innovation and inventiveness; and
f) Use of technology to continuously achieve cost innovation and reduction in cost of operations.
6.3.1 Compressing the technology cycle
In the past, Indian Railways has adopted the route of technology transfer in several areas such as electrification,
signaling, manufacturing of locomotives and components, construction and maintenance of track. It has
successfully adapted these technologies to Indian conditions and trained its workforce to use the technology
effectively. It has also innovated in respect of several areas of asset maintenance, freight rolling stock and
information technology, but IR has generally been a late adopter of the leads and strides made in technology. A
conscious strategy to mitigate the risk of obsolescence and continuously stay ahead in technology race
would be put in place. This would be achieved by fostering close linkage between RDSO, functional levels of
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