Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways & Coal, inaugurates Smart Railway Conclave organised by FICCI, in New Delhi. In his opening remarks, he reiterated Government’s commitment to ensure a smart Railway and a smart nation so that every citizen of India gets a better future. He also emphasised on smart planning, smart project implementation being put into effect holistically in Railways.
Mr Goyal said, currently railways is offering free wi-fi service at more than 700 stations across the country. The Minister said, on the one hand, government is taking fibre optics to country’s remotest corners and on the other hand, Railways is working to get technology across the Railways network.
He said, in May 2014 the optic fibre cable was about 358 kilometres and today it is about two lakh 30 thousand kilometres in four years. He said, about 60 per cent of villages are already connected with optic fibre.
Mr Goyal also said, during the period from 2009 to 2014, an investment of two lakh 30 thousand crore rupees was done, while in the last four years the NDA government has ramped it up to five lakh 30 thousand crore rupees.
He said, government stands committed to ensure a smart Railway and a smart nation so that every citizen of India gets a better future.
Once, Railways change over to smarter signalling, focus on removing permanent speed restrictions, getting 150,000 bridges audited and improved, there is immense potential in Railways. Indian Railways has also planned to make 6,000 Railway stations to be all Wi-Fi enabled.
