Indian Railways is set for a technological renaissance as Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw rolled out the comprehensive Rail Tech Policy alongside the full digitization of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT). Announced as part of the ongoing ’52 Reforms in 52 Weeks’ campaign, these steps aim to inject fresh innovation into one of the world’s largest rail networks.
At its core, the Rail Tech Policy opens doors for innovators, startups, and institutions through a simplified selection mechanism and a new Rail Tech Portal. Financial incentives have been supercharged: expansion grants are now over three times higher, and prototype funding limits have doubled, encouraging bold experimentation.
The policy spotlights transformative technologies like AI-driven elephant intrusion alerts to prevent collisions, smart fire detection in passenger coaches, drones scanning for rail fractures, real-time stress monitoring on tracks, automated load sensors for freight, solar-powered coach amenities, automated cleaning oversight, fog-penetrating obstacle radars, and AI tools for pension and grievance handling.
‘Startups and researchers must integrate systematically with Railways via this digital gateway,’ Vaishnaw asserted, critiquing past cumbersome processes. The shift prioritizes testing novel tech over strict specs, promising accelerated adoption.
Complementing this, the RCT’s e-transformation leverages AI for end-to-end digitization. Claimants will benefit from swift, paperless proceedings accessible nationwide, slashing delays and boosting accountability. This dual announcement signals Railways’ commitment to a future-proof, tech-savvy infrastructure.