Railway Modernisation Key To Economic Growth, Viksit Bharat: Experts

While speaking at an industry event, experts have said that railway modernisation is the key to India's economic growth and a way forward to achieve the Viksit Bharat or developed India goal by 2047. At the Assocham national conference, Mukul Saran Mathur, Additional Member- Commercial, Union Ministry of Railways shared how railways operate in challenging times. 

Mathur added that compared to the 1990s, the changes and transformation are commendable in terms of development. The rail network has been increased to 68000 Kms currently. He stated that the liberalisation and expansion of ports in the country only happened if railways had not been experimenting with logistics. PPP framework has been initialized by railways since the 1990s which led to economic development. India is the only country with the maximum electrification today for the expansion of tracks.

Indian Railways has electrified 95 per cent of its railway network. More capacity must be created immediately because two crore people travel every day on the passenger side. He added that over 5,000 special trains have recently been operated to transport migrants. Focusing on the modernisation of the railways for Viksit Bharat, he mentioned an example of Vande Bharat trains which is a major flagship product in India. Accidents have been reduced with technological advancement and high-speed trains are available on routes for faster travel journeys.

Safety measures are crucial and according to the experts, the private sector should collaborate with the government to improve facilities provided by railways. He said, ''We are procuring 1400 locomotives.'' He continued by saying how Railways refund process has become efficient and is reduced to one to two business days. By Viksit Bharat, the whole travel experience is changed and Gati Shakti policy is leading towards more corridors for multi-model connectivity."

Talking about the railways' modernisation, Deepak Sharma Senior Member, Assocham said that it is a key component in India's vision of Viksit Bharat. This initiative aims to transform the Indian Railways into a world-class network that supports economic growth, enhances connectivity, and improves the quality of life for millions of people.

Indian Railways AI And Machine Learning
Sanjay Bajpai, Co-chairman, National Council on Logistics & Warehousing, Assocham and Executive Director, Container Corporation of India talked about how AI and machine learning are useful in terminals for 100 per cent cargo visibility. “We aim to have last-mile connectivity as we are working on the Gati Shakti plan,” Bajpai added.

Animesh Gupta, Decision Scientist Goldratt Research Labs USA discussed the gaps in railways related to technology and freight. “We need to reach 40 per cent freight by rail to meet the demands. There's a need to reduce the environmental footprint of railway operations. The railway sector needs to ensure that digital solutions are secure and protected from cyber threats," Gupta mentioned.

Concentrating on transportation dependability, Manish Puri, President, ACTO stated that in order to satisfy capacity and demand, infrastructure and logistical output are the main areas of concern due to the increase in trade activity. "In order to realise the goal of "Viksit Bharat," the contemporary railway transition is essential since it advances the country's economy, society, and technology," Puri asserted.