Focus on Make in India in signalling, cost effectiveness in electrification: PM to Rlys

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the railways to use technology developed through "Make in India" for its ambitious Rs 78,000-crore new signalling project, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said today, adding that the national transporter was assessing the delay it could cause in overhauling the century-old system.

In an interview to PTI, Goyal said the prime minister had made suggestions on two projects of the railways -- signalling and electrification -- at a meeting held earlier this year.

"Keeping in mind the Make in India initiative and the fact that three Indian companies are already trying to develop the signalling system, he (Modi) suggested that we should consider indigenous technology also and in case it is found suitable, we should give preference to it," he said.

Asked whether waiting for indigenous technology to be developed would delay the project, Goyal said, "That is what we need to assess and report back to the prime minister."