The centre will be set up shortly at the Mumbai University, will research ways to improve railway infrastructure and services.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in
Mumbai is set to spearhead the Centre’s efforts at understanding and providing better railway services for the country. It will be the centre for the country’s first railway research facility in the country.
The centre is aimed at researching the current systems of railway transport, and come up with solutions to increase speed and efficiency of operations, thus impacting overall quality, says Union Minister for Railways, Suresh Prabhu. He adds, “Mumbai was the natural choice for such a research facility, since the genesis of Indian railways is here. The country’s first railway line was started between Mumbai and Thane. The Railways are constantly working on ways to upgrade infrastructure and services to world-class levels, and linking the process with a premium centre of learning like University of Mumbai was a natural progression.”
He says that new ideas for the better working of the 162-year-old Indian Railways will only come from research. “We will work on increasing speed, better services, passenger safety and optimum use of resources,” he adds.
A memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the Centre for Railway Research was signed between Ministry of Railways and the University of Mumbai at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, last week, in the presence of Governor of Maharashtra Ch Vidyasagar Rao and Prabhu. “I urge all universities and colleges to adopt the railway station nearest to them and cleanliness drive there at least once a month,” the Governor said.
A similar centre to study water resources and water transport will be set up at Ratnagiri, it is learnt.
(Picture courtesy www.railnews.co.in. Image used for representational purpose only)