New Delhi: At the ASSOCHAM National Conference held on Friday, Additional Member for Commercial Affairs at the Ministry of Railways, declared that India is at the forefront of railway electrification, underscoring the nation’s commitment to expanding its rail network. The officials keynote address highlighted India’s strides in rail infrastructure, revealing that the country now boasts a rail network extending 68,000 kilometres.
He emphasized the urgent need for further capacity enhancements to accommodate the daily travel of approximately 20 million passengers. He also noted that the Indian Railways has recently operated over 5,000 special trains to assist in the transportation of migrants, a testament to its adaptive operational strategies. He pointed to the Vande Bharat trains as a flagship initiative, representing a significant leap in India’s rail modernisation efforts. The railway sector’s expansion is underpinned by a substantial Rs 85,000-crore budget allocated for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Mathur praised improvements in the railways’ ticket refund process, which has been streamlined to complete within one to two business days. The Senior Member of ASSOCHAM and CEO of River Engineering Pvt Ltd, stressed the pivotal role of railways in achieving India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). Sharma articulated that modernising the rail network is crucial for supporting economic growth, enhancing connectivity, and improving overall quality of life.
The Co-chairman of the National Council on Logistics and Warehousing and Executive Director of the Container Corporation of India Ltd, discussed the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning for achieving full cargo visibility in terminals. He also highlighted the Gati Shakti plan’s objective of improving last-mile connectivity. A scientist at Goldratt Research Labs USA, pointed out the need to shift 40% of freight to rail to meet demand and reduce the sector’s environmental impact. He called for enhanced digital security measures to safeguard against cyber threats.
In a focus on transportation reliability, President of ACTO, underscored the importance of modernising infrastructure to meet growing trade demands and advance the nation’s economic and technological progress. The President of ABB India Ltd, addressed the significance of high-speed rail in reducing travel times and boosting economic activity. He advocated for modern safety measures, such as digital signalling and train control systems, to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety. Throughout the conference, industry leaders expressed support for the government’s intent to modernise the railways with transformative technologies. However, they also stressed the need for increased transparency, accountability, and reliability in the implementation of these advancements.
