Data analytics can benefit railways 'immensely', says Suresh Prabhu

The Indian Railways carries about 23 million passengers daily (Axis Capital report released in January 2016) besides millions of tonnes of commodities crisscrossing thousands of miles. It is, therefore, a virtual databank that needs to be mined for improvements.

This was the underlying idea behind the Round Table Conference on "Data Analytics for Indian Railways" inaugurated by railway minister Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi on Tuesday. 

"Indian Railways is one of the largest data creators in the world, it has to handle large volume of data. Data analytics is a way forward. It must be studied, analysed and monitored to improve Indian Railways' program. Technology is ever evolving, the need of the hour is to progress with Data Analytics," the railway ministry said in a statement.

A K Mittal, chairman of Railway Board and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

The world's fourth-largest rail network generates data from passenger ticketing, freight operations, crew management, track maintenance, rolling stock maintenance (locomotive), rolling stock maintenance(wagon and coaches) and expenditure accounting, the ministry said. 

"In order to assist the management in taking effective strategic and tactical decisions, Railways have decided to use data analytics using various statistical and software tools. Data analytics can help railways in determining pricing of services, planning train operations on various routes, proactive safety measures and disaster management, predictive maintenance of assets to avoid failures," the ministry added.