Mike Muralidharan

Railway digitalisation will be about improving passenger experience and using right technologies to “ optimise operations.

Mike Muralidharan, fondly called Mike, is the Chief Operating Officer for BCT-Core Global Business. In his role as COO, he spearheads the global operations and steers the organization’s business across various geos. A graduate engineer in Electronics and Telecommunications from the College of Engineering, Guindy, Muralidharan has over 26 years of experience in running various organizations in the areas of Marketing, Operations, Human Resources and Support Services along with overall enterprise management.

A top management professional, with a unique blend of experience working in diverse organizations, he has imbibed the diverse cultures of aggression and process orientation with exceptional relationship management skills and ability to relate with people at all levels.

In a recent interview with Metro Rail Today, Mike shared his opinion on various initiatives being taken by Govt. of India for the development of Rail & Metro sectors

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What is the digital technology that's making the most impact on the railway industry?

The importance of railways, especially in India a high population nation, is undisputed. It is the largest rail network in Asia, and is estimated to have transported 8.4 billion passengers annually and nearly 1.2 billion tonnes of freight in pre-COVID times. An important lifeline for trade and transport, railways in India plays a vital role in urbanization and economic advancement.

Digitalization in railways, which was a steady trot in the pre-pandemic days, is a now turning into a sprint to meet the rapidly changing market needs. The convergence of 5G, AI, ML, and IoT, and the relevance of railways during the supply chain and fuel crises, have renewed interest in digitalization. Most importantly, decision makers are investing in technology to make railways safe, efficient and a good experience for the commuters. Passenger experience has become more important than ever and the industry is investing in Industry 4.0 solutions for new-age railways.

Digital Asset Management is an important aspect that will help railways improve efficiency through better utilisation of assets and inventory. Smarter asset management will result in better management of assets throughout the lifetime of the assets, predict downtimes and prevent them through root cause analysis and enable efficient and automated processes to eliminate manual errors and delays. They will also help in analysis of failures and optimum utilization of assets making public transport economically viable.

What are the major challenges while implementing digital technology in Rail & transportation sectors?

The primary challenge, similar to every industry that is boldly embracing digitalization, is vulnerability. Digital railways will be exposed to more threats than ever before. An example of an external threat is the WannaCry virus that affected a German rail operator in 2017. While this attack did not cause serious operational disruptions, it

clearly demonstrated the need for eliminating vulnerabilities and improving security and governance.

The second challenge is the vast amount of data aggregated from different assets and entities. Railways 4.0 will generate tremendous amount of data, which will need sophisticated ingestion, analysis, visualization, and reporting for informed decision making. Data mismanagement can result in ambiguities or misdiagnosis, impeding digitalization rather than accelerating it.

The last challenge is the culture shift. While the attitude to technology has certainly shifted for the better, a siloed approach to digitalization will not yield results or deliver value. What the industry needs is a homogenous approach with every stakeholder at every intersection ready to replace legacy systems with new-age technologies and willing to embrace disruptions as opportunities for creating better railways.

How can the performance of Indian Railways be improved with the help of digital technology? Give some examples.

India has the fourth largest railway network with over 22,593 operating trains (9141 freight and 13,452 passengers) with a daily passenger count of 24 million passengers and 203.88 million tonnes of freight.

The amount of data collected from this vast network can make railways more efficient and enhance passenger experience. The advent of 5G will help in real-time data gathering, enabling operators to predict, automate, and manage maintenance. For example, smarter asset management systems will reduce human intervention and minimise downtime, improve inspection planning, and streamline and optimize performance of coaches, wagons, and locomotives.

Additionally, AI enabled traffic and load planning and management, data - driven customer service, automated charting, smart inventory management, will create hasslefree passenger experiences improving reliability on public transport.

Recently you collaborated with MMRC for building the Common Asset Management System (CAMS) for Mumbai Metro Line 3. Please share more details about CAMS and its applications in Rail & Metro sectors. Please highlight some new developments in digitalization in Railways and the role of Bahwan CyberTek?

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL) partnership for the Common Assets Management System (CAMS) project is an exciting program. BCT’s integrated CAMS will optimize processes, perform lifecycle cost monitoring and improve the cost-efficiency of the assets of the MMRCL.

The CAMS solution will help MMRCL manage different types of assets such as rolling stock, tracks, power supply systems, traction systems, signalling and control systems, platform screen doors, telecommunication systems, plants and equipment, automated fare collection systems, escalators, and lifts, tunnel ventilation systems, security systems, infrastructure, and related systems and electromechanical systems like fire alarms, domestic water, lightning, etc. through a single-window enterprise application.

Mumbai Metro Line 3, which is expected to commute over 16 lakh people daily, is a massive project in terms of scale and application. Having executed large-scale EAM projects across the world, we understand the scale and volume of assets involved here. Our AI/ML-driven integrated asset management solutions are proven for keeping critical assets operating at maximum efficiency.

What are your thoughts on the future of digitalization in Railways?

Railways digitalization will be about improving passenger experience, and using the right technologies to optimize operations. The sector has come a long way from antiquated legacy systems and is looking at agile, digitalenabled infrastructure for better safety, efficiency, and experience. This increase in digital-enabled experience will be accompanied by an increased emphasis on cybersecurity, protecting data and assets from bad actors. Asset maintenance and inspection will also be delegated to drones, reducing human intervention. Passenger experience, ultimately, will be the intent of all transformations.

What is your feedback on the content we serve to Industry through our online and print publications?

It is very relevant to the industry. You are bringing out stories that will benefit various strata of stakeholders in the industry and help them gain awareness of the latest trends and technologies from around the world.

The DelhiGhaziabad-Meerut Rapid Rail network is a game-changer

 Thameem Kamaldeen, Managing Director Signalling, Alstom India Cluster

The first of eight planned regional rapid rail corridors in the capital region will connect Delhi to key cities and sub-urban areas in the surrounding states – Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Alstom technologies implemented on this project will cut down the commute time to half and change the lives of millions in the National capital region.

In early 2023, Alstom’s first semi-high-speed rapid rail transit system, which is a first-of-its-kind worldwide in digitalization and automation technologies, is set to be operational. It will connect Sahibabad and Duhai, the priority section of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) line, Delhi-Meerut corridor.

The RRTS project aims to address social and economic issues and promote balanced and sustainable economic development of the National Capital Region This corridor will eventually reduce the journey time between Delhi and Meerut to less than 60 minutes, compared to the current 90-120 minutes. The train will have a maximum speed of 180 kmph, and it will run in ~5-10-minute intervals. With 3-6 cars, each allowing for more than 200standing and sitting passengers, this line will deliver enormous passenger capacity that will transform the region. This is what National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) and Alstom are set to achieve starting early next year.

Meeting people is an essential part of life, for business or pleasure, as part of our education or on holiday, getting together for a special moment with friends or family. Travel time is a necessity we all endure and do our best to minimize, as it takes valuable hours that we could have spent earning a living, improving ourselves or most importantly, with our close community and loved ones.

The first phase of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor will be operational early next year with 5 rail stations along the 20 km stretch between Delhi and Ghaziabad (Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot). The entire 82 km corridor will eventually include 25 stations of semi-high speed rail (RRTS) and metro service (MRTS). It will have elevated as well as underground stations and connect several areas in the urban center of Delhi to stations in Ghaziabad and Meerut. All of this is intended to be fully operation in 2024.

This project will not only improve the lives of tens of millions but also become a worldwide reference as Alstom premieres implementation of state-of-the-art advanced systems and innovative technologies. This solution will redefine the future of mainline and metro railways through digitalisation and automation.

The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor operates on Alstom’s ETCS Level 3 Hybrid system and includes two contingency degraded modes, ETCS Level 1 and Interlocking mechanisms. The system incorporates Automatic Train Operation (ATO) over Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio, both are integrated with ETCS for the first time. To provide utmost safety to passengers, a Platform Screen Door (PSD), requiring a stopping accuracy of 30 cm, has been incorporated for the first time with the ETCS solution. This will make RRTS one of the most advanced signalling and train control systems of the world.

It also has a salient feature - its interoperability that will facilitate seamless commuter movement across corridors, without the hassle of changing the trains. This ETCS signalling system will be a key enabler to ensuring interoperability and train movement at quick frequencies.

Right now, work on the Delhi-Meerut corridor is in progress. The first two trains have been delivered. While static tests have been completed, dynamic tests are ongoing. The installation of signalling systems as well as trackside elements, is on its way, all with the goal of starting operations early next year.

Following the activation of the priority section (Sahibabad to Duhai), stage 2 will extend the corridor from Duhai to Meerut (South Station). Stage 3 will expand the corridor within Delhi and the final stage will extend the corridor further into and through Meerut. It will include RRTS as well as metro and subway stations, all to be completed by 2024 .

This is the first of eight RRTS corridors planned by the NCRTC. The Delhi-Panipat corridor is set to begin work late 2022, early 2023 and the - Alwar corridor is scheduled for 2024.

With the opening of Phase 1 of Ahmedabad Metro, India overtakes Japan

With the inauguration of Phase 1 of Ahmedabad Metro Phase 1, the total operational length of metro rail projects in India has reached 810 km, overtaking Japan, said Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on 30th September 2022 during addressing the gathering at the inauguration of Phase-1 of Ahmedabad Metro where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present.

“After the inauguration of Ahmedabad Metro, the coverage of metro rail in India reaches 810 kilometers. It is a matter of pride, that India is among leading countries with respect to total length of metro rail”, the union minister said adding that India has not only overtaken Japan, but also has 982 kilometers of Metro rail under construction. “Once this (982 kilometers of metro rail) finishes, India will overtake South Korea and United States and will reach the second position in the world. I am expecting this to happen within next 12 years,” said Hardeep Singh Puri.

Criticizing the previous government, he said that the metro rail network in India was limited to 248 kilometers only between the year 2002-14.

“The first modern network was started in Delhi by Vajpayee government in 2002. Till 2014, metro network expanded only by 248 kilometers. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the development of the nation in May 2014, there has been a mentionable progress in the development of metro,” Puri said. Talking about the urban development in India, Puri said, “From 2004-2014, only Rs 1.57 lakh crore was invested in urban development. But since last eight years, Rs 16.5 lakh crore has been invested. It is about 10 times more. ” Puri said adding that Ahmedabad will become India’s seventh mega city by 2030.

During the Friday’s event, HOKUGO Kyoko, Minister (Economic & Development), Embassy of Japan, attended the ceremony along with officials of JICA which has extended a loan for building of Ahmedabad Metro, stated an official release.

“We would like to congratulate on the successful completion of the project and the ceremony held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan. Due to rapid expansion of population and economic activities, traffic congestion and traffic pollution have become a major concern for the city. Ahmedabad metro will provide the alternative choice of city transportation and shall also ease traffic congestion and pollution,” said Kawazu Kunihiko, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Japan.

“The metro is well planned as a part of the integrated urban transportation of the city. Further, it is expected to contribute to further economic development and the further transaction in Ahmedabad,” Kunihiko added.

Operational Metro Rail Projects in India

At present metro rail is operating in 15 cities in India namely Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Gurugram, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai, Kochi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Noida, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Kanpur and Pune.