Railways signs MoU with Isro to leverage technology to support its operations

The MoU aims for developing Remote Sensing and GIS for remote sensing at unmanned railway crossing

Ministry of Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for developing Remote Sensing and geographic information system (GIS) for Remote Sensing at unmanned railway crossing and other uses.

The MoU, for effective use of space technology in Remote Sensing and GIS based governance application, was signed after the Railway minister's special mention in his Budget announcement regarding geospatial and enhanced use of space technology in various sectors of governance.

The MoU aims for developing applications in the field of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) for Remote Sensing at unmanned railway crossing including, all geospatial solutions and customized software solutions for providing reliable, efficient & optimal solutions to Railways in it various areas of operation thereby benefiting the rail user.

Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu that the signing of this MoU with the Isro is of a great importance, which will solve all the day to day problems of Indian Railways by using best technology provided by the Isro. He added that it is a big challenge for the Indian Railways to keep pace with the latest technology and it is now ready to adopt new technologies. He said that Railways want to keep itself modernised with the new technological innovations and some of the most difficult solutions could be found by using latest technology.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Atomic Energy, Space, Prime Minister Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh that it is a common misperception that Isro works only in the field of Satellite and Space. He said that Department of Space through Isro has been extending its help to various organizations in wide sphere for example recent agreement by Isro with the Ministry of Urban Development in developing smart cities.

He said that Isro can even find out suspicious activities on the Railways Stations. Thus, Isro services can not only be taken in disaster management but also can be taken in normal course. He said that its technology is cost-effective as well as accurate. He hoped better coordination and fruitful result with this MoU.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha said that Railways is deeply concerned to find solution of late running of trains due to fog and advised Isro to find some solution. As per the MoU, Ministry of Railways proposes to use space technology tools in providing passenger information system in all trains indicating the next station/stoppage, real time train tracking, survey of new rail route alignments particularly in hilly and difficult terrains, conduct track vulnerability studies, mapping of assets and introducing web enabled rail user centric services.

Currently, Indian Railways is using Space technology for providing connectivity to Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and Unreserved Ticketing System at remote and non-rail head locations, Emergency Communication using Satellite phones from disaster sites, GPS for various applications like Remote Monitoring of Locomotives, Passenger Information System in Mumbai Sub-urban trains and synchronized clocks & WiFi facility in selected Rajdhani Express trains.