Railways seeks Isro's help to run trains in difficult times and terrain

Indian Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) regarding effective use of space-based remote sensing technology for ensuring smooth running of trains during the foggy winter season.

Indian Railways and Isro on Thursday signed an MoU on the `Effective Use of Space Technology in Remote Sensing and Graphic Information System (GIS) based Governance Application for Indian Railways.''

Speaking on the occasion, railway minister Suresh Prabhu said the signing of the MoU with Isro will help Railways solve many of its day-to-day problems with the use of the best technology.

Prabhu said the partnership between his ministry and Isro is ''not a mere marriage of convenience, but a marriage of necessity'' as Indian Railways would enlist the services of Isro for various works related to technological upgradation.

As per the MoU, the railway ministry proposes to use space technology tools in providing passenger information system in all trains indicating the next station, stoppage, real time train tracking.

At present, Indian Railways is using space technology for providing connectivity to passenger reservation system counters and unreserved ticketing system.

Prabhu said the core activity of the Railways is to run trains thus Indian Railways has to become partner with the great organisations like ISRO in order to address the technology challenge. The Railways, he said, is now ready to adopt new technologies and keep itself modernised.

He said with the new technological innovations, solutions could be found for some of the most difficult solutions.

The Department of Space through Isro has been extending its help to various organisations in a wide sphere. Recently, isro signed an agreement with the ministry of urban development in developing smart cities.

He said that Isro can even find out suspicious activities at railways stations, adding that its services can not only be taken in disaster management but also in normal course. He said Isro's technology is cost-effective as well as accurate. He hoped better coordination and fruitful result with this MoU.

''During the peak winter days, Railways come to standstill in North India. I think such a study that will help enable run trains smoothly during peak of winter season in north India will be a big service to the country,'' minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha told Isro chairman AS Kiran Kumar and other senior officials.

''We have already requested various research organisations. But I think any such research by ISRO will be a big service. We need to undertake this,'' Sinha said.

Minister of state for science and technology Jitendra Singh also was present on the occasion.