Rail Track Monitoring System Goes Online Across India

Focussing on information technology, railways is developing modules to monitor rail temperature and bridge water level online as part of the Track Management System (TMS) across the country.

Web enabled Track Management System has been fully implemented in all railway divisions in the country to monitor track maintenance-related activities on a real-time basis, Railway Board Member (Engineering) V K Gupta said at a seminar in New Delhi Thursday.

Proper maintenance of rail tracks is essential for train operations, particularly for heavy hauling and high speed movement.

"In the days ahead, additional modules will be developed for inventory management and monitoring of bridge water level and rail temperature as part of the Track Management System," he said.

He said with implementation of the TMS, inspection registers shall be discontinued in next six months period.

Addressing the gathering, Chairman Railway Board (CRB) A K Mital admitted that most accidents take place at unmanned level crossings.

Stressing that the safety of passengers is important, Mital said there is strong emphasis on safety and at the same time to increase the speed as well.

The CRB said a road map for the next five years have been drawn and plan outlay has been increased substantially.

"Besides gross budgetary support, we are also taking extra budgetary support," Mital said.

Referring to the safety aspect, Gupta said the vision of railways is to eliminate all unmanned level crossings and busy manned level crossings in a phased manner.

"Budgetary sanctions for construction of about 1400 rail overbridge (ROB) and 7500 rail underbridge (RUB) are already available having railways share of Rs. 31,000 crores. Large number of ROBs/RUBs are likley to get sanctioned in coming years," Gupta said.

Railways has launched a website for speedy approval of ROB/RUB on national highway in coordination with Road Transport and Highways Ministry.

Gupta said the website is working satisfactorily and railways has decided to extend the facility to state governments for construction of ROB/RUB on cost-sharing basis.

He said remodelling of station yards is necessary keeping with the plan to increase speed up to 160-200 kmph on selected routes.