Mukul Saran Mathur, Ministry of Railways

New Delhi 23rd August 2024: At the ASSOCHAM National Conference on Modernization of Railways for Viksit Bharat, Shri Mukul Saran Mathur, Addl. Member – Commercial, Ministry of Railways, Govt of India in his inaugural address shared how railways operate in challenging time and we need to see how things are changing. Comparison from the 90s the changes and transformation is commendable in terms of development. Rail network has been increased to 68000 Kms currently.

The liberalization and expansion of ports in the country only happened if railway have not been experimenting with logistics. PPP framework has been initialized by railways since 90s 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% 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 Modernization of the Railways for Viksit Bharat, he mentioned an example for Vande Bharat trains which is a major flagship product in India. Accidents have been reduced with technology advancement and high speed trains are available in routes for faster travel journeys. 85000 cr plan is provided for railways expansion in 2023-24. Safety measures are crucial. 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 1-2 business days. By Viksit Bharat, whole travel experience is changed and Gati Shakti policy which is leading towards more corridors for multi model connectivity.

Shri Deepak Sharma Senior Member ASSOCHAM gave his welcome address about the modernization of railways as a key component in India’s vision of “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). 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.

Shri Sanjay Bajpai, Co-Chairman, National Council on Logistics & Warehousing, ASSOCHAM & Executive Director, Container Corporation of India Ltd. talked about how AI and machine learning are useful in terminals for 100% cargo visibility. We aim to have last mile connectivity as we are working on the Gati Shakti plan, he added.

Shri Animesh Gupta, Decision Scientist Goldratt Research Labs USA discussed the gaps in railways related to technology and freight. We need to reach 40% 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.

Concentrating on transportation dependability The President of ACTO, Shri Manish Puri, 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 realize the goal of “Viksit Bharat,” contemporary railway transition is essential since it advances the country’s economy, society, and technology.

The safety of passengers was discussed by Shri Moonish Ghuge, President of ABB India Ltd., given the large number of people who travel by train every day and the importance of high-speed rail in cutting travel times and increasing economic activity. To prevent mishaps, modern safety measures like digital signaling and train control surveillance are useful.