The railway system in India will emerge as an engine of national growth in the near future.

Kaushal Kodesia

Executive Director - Railways, KEC International

How do you track the growth scenario of Railways in India?

Indian Railways (IR) has witnessed massive progress over the last decade. As IR is progressing towards accomplishing its Mission of 100 per cent electrification by December 2023, the national transporter is set to become not only a game changer in the Indian energy sector but also the largest green railway network in the world. Electrification has increased significantly from just 1,317 RKM in 2012-13 to 6,542RKM in 2022-23.

Under the newly formed Gati Shakti division of IR, project sanction and funding for capacity expansion projects increased significantly in the past year. Average daily track laying has increased from just 4 km per day (before 2014) to 14 km per day last year, with 5,243 km of track length achieved in 2022-23.

A remarkable achievement of developing technologies in recent years under Make in India has been Indian Railways' anti-collision system 'Kavach' which is being implemented in a phased manner. Indigenously manufactured semi-high-speed Vande Bharat train is another notable achievement of IR, which is expected to proliferate in the next 10 years.

Government has allocated record Rs 2.4 lakh crore for Railways in the Union Budget. What further developments do you look forward for railways?

Capex will increase further in the coming years as more projects are taken on hand. The focus will be on the development of infrastructure, 'Make in India' high-speed trains and timely completion of projects going forward. With the formation of the Gati Shakti Directorate in the Railway Board, we hope that the sanction and execution of projects will be much faster and more efficient. The railway system in India will emerge as an engine of national growth in the near future.

How do you visualize the emerging opportunities for contractors in railways sector?

Several opportunities are emerging in the railways sector for EPC contractors. Mission Raftaar programme of IR (160 kmph speed upgradation on IR's congested network) offers a lot of opportunities in electrification and signaling & telecom works. The ongoing state special purpose vehicle (SPV) projects like Bangalore Suburban Rail, Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor, etc. provide immense opportunities for civil works besides system works. Further, the redevelopment of more than 1,200 stations to world-class standards is expected to change the levels of passenger comfort and experience. With the government's focus on infrastructure development, significant opportunities are expected to come up in laying of new tracks, gauge conversion, doubling of new lines, construction of bridges, tunnels, etc.

What are the latest initiatives of the company in railways?

In the journey towards delivering superior value to our clients, global infrastructure engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) player KEC International is laying a strong emphasis on strengthening its project management practices, adopting the latest machinery, deploying advanced mechanisation and digitalisation initiatives such as AI and IoT, and enhancing efficiency, safety and quality at project sites. This approach is enabling our company not only to accelerate project execution but also to deliver projects ahead of schedule. We have further strengthened our supply chain through backward integration for enhanced supply security and better control over costs and quality.

We are also leveraging digital and technological solutions such as precast/ prestressed construction methodology, BIM, drones for surveys and tracking real-time project progress for faster and superior project execution. KEC has achieved over eight million safe person hours across its urban infrastructure projects, earning several prestigious awards and appreciations from organisations such as National Safety Council of India and Construction Industry Development Council.

What is your outlook on railways as a greener transportation medium in the future?

IR's initiative to become a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030 is a significant step towards reducing India's carbon emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The railways have undertaken various measures to reduce its carbon footprint, including the electrification of the railway network, the use of renewable energy sources, and the reduction of energy consumption. IR's plan to develop hydrogen trains is a step in the right direction.

These initiatives in creating a greener transportation medium will also bring immense opportunities for the industry. An annual electricity requirement of 30 billion units from 2024 will create opportunities to generate renewable power. Demand for overhead line equipment like conductors, transformers and insulators will automatically increase, creating substantial opportunities for the suppliers. Electrification will also lead to immense opportunities for rolling stock companies. Even electric locomotives will gain pace.

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