Piyush Goyal stresses on railway safety, track renewal

New Delhi: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has stressed on railway safety, saying that renewal of rail tracks would be done wherever required and the signalling system will soon be revamped.

Addressing a press conference here at Rail Bhawan, Goyal said, "Track renewal on the routes where it is required has been ordered."

He also said he has asked the railway officials to revamp the existing signalling system.

The move comes in the wake of several railway accidents, especially in Uttar Pradesh last month, due to trains jumping off the tracks. The frequent rail accidents led to Suresh Prabhu being shunted out as Railway Minister and Goyal brought in.

Goyal said that the flexi fare ticket pricing system would be reviewed soon.

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"I have heard people complaining about the flexible fare ticketing system. We will soon take a decision on that," he said.

He also said that the prices in the flexi fare system would be slashed.

India set to leapfrog learning stages towards going digital

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal also said that with the kind of technology, talent and innovation which are currently available in the country, India will leapfrog the learning stages the developed countries have to go through towards realising their digital goals.

Here is what else he said about it:

• We have to expand the level of technology for growth. The telecom industry and Railways are helping India expanding it to benefit the masses.
• We have to look at new standards of service to our customers and have to expand the level of technology.
• Connectivity is the key to growth and development as we bring mobility to the people across the country to give them a comfortable experience.
• The increase smartphone penetration will bring e-commerce and banking right in your pocket.

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• As India moves towards mobile governance, there lies a great opportunity for startups and entrepreneurs to integrate technology with public services.
• We are working with Google to bring Wifi to 400 railway stations in the country.

  The minister was speaking on sidelines of a at the a three-day event led by the Department of Telecommunication as the nodal ministry India Mobile Congress. The event that started on Wednesday last is the first of its kind in India. It has been organised by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI)

It has housed 300 exhibitors along with 60 start-ups and eight embassies as participants.