OREANDA-NEWS. November 07, 2011. An all India seminar on ‘High Speed Trains – “Issues & Options” was held here today jointly organized by the Institution of Engineers (India) - Delhi State Centre, IET (UK) - Delhi Local Network and Institution of Railway Electrical Engineers (IREE). The Minister of State for Railways, Shri K.H.Muniyappa was the Chief Guest and Member Electrical, Railway Board, Shri Kul Bhushan was the Guest of Honour at the seminar. While addressing the gathering at the seminar, Shri Muniyappa said that the then Railway Minister, Mamata Banerjee in her Budget Speech of 2010-11 announced setting up of National High Speed Rail Authority for planning, standard setting, implementing and monitoring of construction of High Speed Passenger Rail Corridors. He said that Railways have already identified sic corridors and has initiated action on pre-feasibility studies for them. He said that the Railways desire the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for investment and execution, and draw on frontier technologies incorporating the highest standards of safety and service quality. High Speed executed rail corridor will become a catalyst for India’s economic growth, a stimulus for the development of satellite towns and reduction of migration to metropolises, he said.

Shri Muniyappa said that around the world some 40,000 Kms of High Speed Rail tracks are under construction. High Speed Rail is environment friendly and will reduce the Green House Effect. High Speed Rail in the country will help to achieve mobility with lesser pollution. It will create manufacturing capability resulting in employment opportunity. The infrastructure creation will create meaningful jobs both in construction as well as maintenance and operations. Based on the success several projects will be included and the day is not far when Indian Railways could have the High Speed Train like the bullet train operating in India, the Minister added.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kul Bhushan, Member Electrical, Railway Board, said that At present the maximum speed of passenger trains on Indian railway network is 150 kmph. Ministry of Railways has adopted a two pronged strategy to increase speeds of passenger trains. With the commissioning of Dedicated Freight Corridors, capacity would be released along the existing trunk routes and these would be upgraded to run passenger trains and EMUs at 200 kmph. A study is being carried out by Government of Japan for up grading speed of New Delhi-Mumbai route to 200 kmph. The other strategy is to develop green field high speed rail corridors with a speed potential of 250-350 kmph on the identified six corridors. Elaborating advantages of very high sped trains, Shri Kul Bhushan said that the immense economic benefits of high speed rail are inducing Governments worldwide to introduce it on a large scale. High speed rail encourages economic development by providing fast and efficient transportation with less energy intensity and savings in journey time and total resource cost to the country compared to other modes of transport. High speed rail network links cities together into integrated regions that can lead to a stronger economic growth. It also broadens labour market and offers higher mobility to workers.

Shri R.N.Rajpoot, Chairman, the Institution of Engineers (India), Delhi State Centre delivered the welcome address, Dr. S.N.Mahendra delivered key note address and Shri V.K.Dutt was the convener at the seminar.