New Delhi [India], October 26 : Delegates of the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD), comprising transport specialists from South and South-East Asian countries, visited the Namo Bharat Corridor on Sunday. The delegation was accompanied by senior officials of NCRTC.
A detailed briefing was given to the delegates on India's first regional rail, Namo Bharat, covering the project's overview, the advanced technologies deployed, and its innovative initiatives. They were also briefed on how Namo Bharat is addressing key urban mobility challenges, such as reducing pollution and congestion, and on how it is contributing towards a sustainable future.
The delegation took a round trip on the Namo Bharat train from New Ashok Nagar to Duhai Depot Namo Bharat station, where they experienced the commuter-centric features of the trains. Under the Make in India initiative of the Government of India, these trainsets are manufactured in Savli, Gujarat. En route, they experienced the commuter-centric design of the trains and stations, as well as accessibility provisions, and appreciated the detailed focus on the comfort and diverse needs of commuters.
A detailed briefing was also given on the various efforts being taken by NCRTC for Multi-modal Integration (MMI), in which stations are seamlessly connected to other existing modes of public transport, creating a vast network-of-networks to ensure better ridership and long-term sustainability.
They particularly noticed and appreciated the presence of women in various roles, such as train operators and station control officers, and commended the women-led development of the organisation.
At Duhai Depot, the delegates visited the state-of-the-art Inspection Bay Line (IBL) and Workshop, observing the comprehensive processes involved in maintaining and servicing Namo Bharat trainsets. A detailed briefing was given on operational protocols, safety checks, and technical procedures that ensure trains run efficiently and reliably.
The visit also included a demonstration of several groundbreaking technologies being adopted for this first-of-its-kind project in India. They were briefed on the Hybrid Level 3 technology of the European Train Control System (ETCS) being implemented over an LTE backbone for this transformative mobility solution --a global first and one of the most advanced signalling and train control systems.
Along with this, the delegates visited the Administrative Building at Duhai Depot, where they observed the Operation Control Centre, Simulator Room, and other facilities. NCRTC is using various advanced technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Building Information Modelling (BIM), for project implementation, operational efficiency, and training purposes.
The visit concluded at New Ashok Nagar Namo Bharat Station. Throughout the visit, the delegates expressed keen interest in NCRTC's initiatives, acknowledging the corporation's efforts in promoting sustainable, technologically advanced, and commuter-friendly infrastructure.
They also appreciated the efforts made by NCRTC to implement the project on time and to overcome challenges through the adoption of advanced technologies and progressive methods, noting that these innovative practices are not only setting new standards for India but are also gaining recognition globally.