MODERNIZATION OF TELECOM IN RAILWAYS

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During the Ninth Plan, the Railways spent Rs. 1165.80 crores on signalling and telecom.

For the current Tenth Plan, Rs. 3190 crores including Special Railway Safety Fund (SRSF) has been earmarked for signalling and telecom.

Meanwhile, the Railways have started updating and modernizing its telecom system with the progressing introduction of Optical Fibre Cable, Electronic Exchanges, Digital Microwave and Satellite Telephones.

So far, 9,935 kilometres Optical Fibre Cable, 221,060 Digital Electronic Exchanges, 7,341 Digital Microwave Links and 65 Satellite Phones have been set up on the Railways.

The RailTel Corporation of India (RailTel), a public sector undertaking set up recently under the Ministry of Railways, has embarked on expediting modernization of Railway communication system for train control, operations and safety.

RailTel is in the process of laying optical fibre cable system along the railway track utilizing Railways’ right of way for creating a nationwide broadband telecom and multimedia network.

RailTel plans to connect 150 important cities and 1500 stations on optical fibre network during the current financial year 2003-2004. Besides, RailTel plans to provide as pilot projects Internet Kiosks at New Delhi railway station shortly. In addition, Internet services on one of the trains will also be introduced during the current financial year.