Organisation, Research and Development

Organisation, Research and Development The Minis­try of Railways undertakes the management of the Indian Railways, which is the largest public sector undertaking in the country. There are nine undertakings under the admin­istrative control of the Ministry of Railways, viz., (i) Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited (RITES); (ii) Indian Railway Construction (IRCON) International Limited; (Iii) Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC); (iv) Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR); (v) Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL); (vi) Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corpo­ration Ltd. (IRCTC); (vii) Railtel Corporation of India Ltd.(Rail Tel), (viii) Mumbai Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (MRVNL); and (ix) Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL). Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) was set up as a registered society to design and implement various railway computerisation projects.

The Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) at Lucknow is the R&D wing of Indian Railways. It functions as a consultant to the Indian Railways in technical matters and also provides consultancy to other organisations connected with railway manufacture and design. Since 1924-25, railway finances remain separated from general revenues. They have their own funds and accounts and the Railway Budget is presented separately to Parliament. However, the Railways contribute to the general revenue a dividend on the capital invested. Quan­tum of contribution is reviewed periodically by a Parlia­mentary Convention Committee.

Over the years, Indian Railways have not only achieved self-sufficiency in production of rolling stock in the country but also supplied rolling stock to other countries and non­railway customers. In order to keep pace with the tech­nology change, Indian Railways has entered into an agree­ment with M/s General Motors, USA, for transfer of technology for manufacture of 4000 HP, state-of-the-art, AC -DC, microprocessor controlled, fuel efficient Locomo­tives at Diesel Locomotives Works (DLW), Varanasi and with Mis ABB manufacture of 6000 HP, 3 Phase Electric Locomotives at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Chittaranjan. It has also entered into a transfer of technol­ogy contract for manufacture of LHB designed high-speed light weight coaches at Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala.
Rapid progress in industrial and agricultural sectors has generated a higher level of demand for rail transport, particularly in core sectors like coal, iron and steel ores, petroleum products and essential commodities such as food grains, fertilisers, cement, sugar, salt, edible oils, etc. Some of the measures taken for improvement of the railway system are: (i) line capacity augmentation on certain critical sectors and modernisation of signalling system; (ii) mea­sures such as unit train operation for bulk commodities like coal; (iii) increase in roller-bearing equipped wagons; (iv) increase in trailing loads to 4,500 tonnes; (v) operation 'UNI­GAUGE' on Indian Railways; (vi) strengthening the track structure by providing heavier and stronger rails and concrete sleepers; and (vii) production of prototype electric locomotive of 5000 HP for freight operation by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.

Most of the rolling stock requirements of the Indian Railways are met through domestic production. Locomo­tives are built at (a) Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Chittaranjan; (b) Diesel Locomotives Works (DLW), Varanasi; and (c) BHEL. Bhopal. a public sector undertaking that has developed capacity to manufacture electric locomotives. Another plant, Diesel Component Works (DCW), has been set up at Patiala in Punjab for manufacturing and repairs of components of diesel locomotives. Bulk of the passenger coaches are built at Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur near Chennai and Rail Coach Factory (RCF) at Kapurthala. The Wheel and Axle plant at Bangalore supplies most of the requirements of wheels and axles for Railways. The diesel multiple units for suburban non-electrified routes and main line electrical multiple units for electrified sections are manufactured by Integral Coach Factory, Chennai.

Both passenger and freight traffic carried by Indian Railways have been increasing.