Indian Railways to establish special research unit called SRESHTA

The Indian Railways is all set to establish a special wing to conduct in-house research. The research wing, named SRESHTA (Special Railway Establishment for Strategic Technology and Holistic Advancement), will mainly include scientists and railways experts.

• Indian Railways at present has its own research firm known as Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) but however, after SRESHTA, RDSO will focus only on day-to-day issues whereas the latter will take care of long term research to improve functioning capability of the railways.
• According to an official, RDSO is mostly busy finalizing the standards and specific regulations for new equipment to be owned by the railways. Research part is what mainly left out. So in a bid to import more newest technologies to enhance the quality of the public sector giant, there would be in-house research work needed especially in the areas of various technologies required upgradation in signaling and telecommunication system, track designing, improvement in rolling stock and others.
• However, RDSO is still credited for developing pre-stressed concrete sleepers that were used to lay tracks and the latest Double Decker coaches. For long time, a need has been felt to introduce newest technologies in the rail sector to bring world-class railway system and services.
• SRESHTA will primarily focus on improving passenger services and amenities by using modern technology like the rest of the developed nations use. Apart from this, a devoted team called Special Unit for Transportation Research and Analytics (SUTRA) would be established to analyze in detail for best possible investment decisions and operations. The team basically would consist of professional analysts to carry forward the research.

(Source: ET)