Railways launches web-enabled project management system

In order to bring transparency and accountability, railways today made web-enabled project monitoring system operational for effective execution of rail projects.
There should be transparency in project execution and this new IT application will serve the purpose, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said after launching the Project Management and Information System (PMIS) here.
Railways has over 600 major projects of network expansion and modernisation costing around Rs 4.5 lakh crore out of which many projects are being delayed for years.
"With the launch of the PMIS, now one can monitor the project execution from any place," Prabhu said, adding "now we are planning to launch an App which will enable us to monitor all rail projects from our mobile phones."

Railways' capital expenditure has increased from Rs 58,000 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 93,000 crore in 2015-16 and now it has been pegged at Rs 1.21 lakh crore for the current fiscal.
Railways also plan to lay 19 km-long track per day in 2018-19.

Currently PMIS is being implemented on the Kashmir rail link project and later on the system will cover all major projects.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramullah rail link project has complexities of fragile geological formations and unstable geomorphology of young Himalayan mountains coupled with inclement weather.
PMIS envisages creation of a consolidated knowledge repository which will result in collaborative innovation, transparency and accountability. It will use drone recording and CCTV coverage to collect latest position online.

Prabhu said PMIS will also be modified later to cater to the emerging situation.
Benefits expected to be accrued from bringing all the projects on PMIS platform include online monitoring and mid-course correction to ensure faster execution and it will also help in better estimation and planning and faster decision making.