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  Panel to focus on tech for berths, platforms

Panel to focus on tech for berths, platforms

Published : May 16, 2016, 1:52 am IST
Updated : May 16, 2016, 1:52 am IST

The Railways will soon invite people to join the technological challenge to give solutions on three key issues involving the enhancement of coach berths, better planning of the platforms and monetisat

The Railways will soon invite people to join the technological challenge to give solutions on three key issues involving the enhancement of coach berths, better planning of the platforms and monetisation of data. The Kayakalp council, headed by Mr Ratan Tata, will examine the technological solutions.

The Railways have provided for a budget of Rs 50 crore for buying the solutions, which the participants may come up. “We will soon inform the people the terms and conditions and the details of the three challenges being faced by the Railways. We need solutions for them. There is a financial incentive out of the Rs 50 crore budget,” said a senior official of the railway board.

The Railways have been mulling for a while on ways to enhance the berth capacity of the train coaches. There were a few proposals before the railway board earlier, but they were not found feasible. In a bid to enhance the revenue, the Railways is keen to get more berths per coaches to accommodate more passengers.

Also, the height of the railway platform has become an issue of concern for the railways. With the lower height of the platform, the passengers, said the official, face trouble boarding the trains. “We need solutions wherein the passengers can board the trains without inconvenience without the Railways needing to carry out much of the construction works. We hope that the people, including architects, can offer us feasible solutions, which can be implemented,” said the official.

Additionally, the Railways as part of its exercise to mobilise non-tariff revenue is keen to tap the potential of the railway platforms to raise resources. “The sheer size of the footfalls at the railway platform is an exciting opportunity for us to tap the potential of the data. Each platform has unique data, which can be commercially exploited in the times of growing e-commerce,” said the official.

The shortlisted solutions of the participants will be presented before the full Kapakalp council headed by Mr Tata. Once the council approves an idea, the Railways will buy the rights by financially compensating the successful person in the upcoming technological challenge, added the official.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi