New Delhi: In a major technology push, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced the RailTech Policy and the full digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT), marking the third and fourth reforms under Indian Railways’ “52 Reforms in 52 Weeks” initiative.
RailTech Portal to Drive Innovation
The newly introduced RailTech Policy seeks to open the doors of Indian Railways to startups, innovators, industry players and academic institutions through a dedicated digital RailTech Portal. The framework simplifies proposal submission and evaluation, allowing innovators to directly pitch technology-driven solutions.
Vaishnaw said the policy shifts the focus from rigid vendor specifications to an innovation-first approach that encourages trials and large-scale adoption of successful technologies. The Railways will support up to 50 per cent of development costs for viable proposals, with the aim of scaling proven solutions through substantial procurement orders.
Priority areas include AI-based elephant intrusion detection systems, fire detection in coaches, drone-enabled track monitoring, predictive maintenance of overhead equipment, sensor-based load management, AI-driven pension processing, and enhanced passenger safety solutions using smart CCTV analytics.
The minister noted that the policy draws inspiration from successful innovation models in defence and electronics sectors, and aims to remove procedural bottlenecks to create a transparent and startup-friendly ecosystem.
e-RCT to Enable Paperless, 24×7 Claim Filing
Announcing the fourth reform, Vaishnaw launched the e-RCT system to enable end-to-end digitisation of the Railway Claims Tribunal, which adjudicates compensation claims related to railway accidents, untoward incidents, loss of goods, and refund matters under the Railway Claims Tribunal Act, 1987.
With 23 benches operating across 21 cities, claimants earlier had to physically visit tribunal offices for filing and tracking cases. The new digital platform will allow 24×7 online filing of claims from any location, along with real-time case tracking, online scrutiny, automated notifications and access to digitally signed orders.
The system integrates e-filing, a centralised Case Information System (CIS), and a Document Management System (DMS), enabling paperless courts, hybrid hearings (physical and virtual), and centralised data management. All RCT benches are expected to be fully digitised within the next 12 months.
Vaishnaw said the reform will make the claims process faster, transparent and citizen-friendly, reducing travel costs and procedural delays. He added that similar digital models could be considered for other tribunals in the future if the initiative proves successful.
Earlier this month, the minister had announced reforms including continuous cleaning of general coaches and expansion of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals, as part of the broader 52-week transformation roadmap for Indian Railways.
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