Indian Railways will install composite sleepers and AI track monitoring
On Thursday, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Railways, Several steps were taken to improve the safety and convenience of rail travel, including installing composite sleepers at bridge approaches, points, and crossings.
In addition, the ministry stated that inspection vehicles would be equipped with an AI-enabled track monitoring system that makes use of a unique AI-enabled gadget.
The new composite sleepers will be lighter, have a higher load capacity, and provide better cushioning than the current heavy iron and concrete sleepers. The statement stated that laying and fixing composite sleepers is simpler.
Depending on the particular circumstances of where these sleepers will be utilized, they may be planned and installed. Using them will enhance the passenger experience, particularly when traveling through points & crossings and bridges.
These composite sleepers are made of mixed materials and have superior durability compared to iron and concrete. They may support loads of up to 700 kg per square centimeter. The Railways anticipates that the mover will lower the cost of maintaining its current sleepers.
To evaluate the condition of the tracks with the help of AI, inspection vehicles will be equipped with ground penetration radar equipment. Additionally, the ministry chose to implement Magnetic Particle Testing in order to detect minor flaws in welded joints and enhance the quality of railway track welding.
The statement emphasized that the Indian Railways family continues to be committed to offering passengers safe and pleasant journey and that the judgments demonstrate Indian Railways’ awareness of public safety.
In order to maintain low prices, the Indian Railways is focusing on inexpensive travel by increasing the number of non-AC general and sleeper cars and offering an average discount of around 45% each passenger, according to an official release from March.
According to the announcement, railways offers a passenger subsidy of around Rs 60,000 crore every year, plus a further Rs 3,000 crore subsidy for suburban areas like Mumbai.