"THE FUTURE OF BIG DATA ANALYTICS IN THE RAILWAY INDUSTRY PROMISES A REVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATION"

Mike Muralidharan, Chief Operating Officer, Bahwan CyberTek explains how leveraging big data analytics can assist railways in making informed, data-driven decisions, thereby enhancing its operational efficiency, sustainability, and safety in an interview with Nisha Shukla.

- Nisha Shukla

How has the adoption of big data analytics helped in transforming decision-making processes within the railway industry? 

Indian Railways is the fourth largest in the world – it is an economic lifeline connecting the entire length and breadth of the country. While the sector has historically relied on legacy systems to maintain operations, there is a swift, discerning shift towards digitalisation. The Indian Railways has embraced digitalisation across spheres like operations, maintenance, and monitoring to enhance passenger experience and improve revenue.

The adoption of big data analytics has fundamentally reshaped decision-making within the railway sector. First, there’s the modernisation of the signalling system designed to improve safety and line capacity. Second, we’re able to monitor data using sensors in real-time, and identify and prevent issues - shifting from reactive to predictive maintenance. This is improving fleet reliability and availability, an important factor that influences revenue for railways. Lastly, big data is strengthening giant public corporations such as Indian Railways to maintain reliable schedules using real-time data, ultimately enhancing the experience, not just for passengers but also for all stakeholders.

How is Bahwan CyberTek (BCT) leveraging new technologies and methodologies used in big data analytics to reshape railway operations?