Rlys to lease telecom network to pvt firms

KOCHI, APRIL 6: The railways is all set to venture into a different genre of activity -- telecommunication. Its elaborate optical fibre ca...

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KOCHI, APRIL 6: The railways is all set to venture into a different genre of activity — telecommunication. Its elaborate optical fibre cable network will be soon leased out to various private telecom service providers and business establishments.

Several firms have evinced interest in the high-tech communication channel currently being laid throughout the southern region. Works have been completed at various sections and soon these areas would be integrated with the remaining sectors to form a southern grid.

Though the railways is laying 24-fibre system, not more than four channels are needed for its use. “So the remaining can be leased out,” sources said. Talks with many top names in the communication business are in progress.

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“Companies like Tata and Kirloskar have also approached us as these channels would provide them a faster and easier corridor for data transmission.” Those in the communication industry include BPL, Escotel and Asianet. “The TV channel is specifically interested to establish an inter-district link within the State using this facility,” sources said.

The optic fibre cable (OFC) network will also give a tremendous fillip to the communication infrastructure of the railways. “At present, the railway communication is through DoT lines. Apart from theft, there are several other factors that damage these lines, eventually throwing all systems haywire. OFC is the only solution to this.”

Further, the OFC will help linking of all wayside stations with a communication highway. “The capacity of railway exchange can also be enhanced. Another important facet is the safety aspect,” a senior official said.

Emergency plug-in provisions would be made at every kilometre. “So if a train is stranded, the driver can connect his emergency phone to one of these sockets and inform the Palakkad control room.”

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Currently, the railways has to shell out more than a couple of crores of rupees for availing communication channels. While the Palakkad division pays more than a crore of rupees, the telecom charge incurred by Thiruvananthapuram division is Rs 1.5 crore.

“And with the installation of OFC this sum can be saved. At the same time, it will enable us to make some extra money. A pager company in Karnataka is already using this facility for their functioning between Mangalore and Kundapaura. The link is through till Karwar. The Mangalore-Mumbai belt running along the Konkan route is also attracting queries.”

While the OFC link between Kochi and Shornur has been commissioned, work on the Rs 5-crore Shornur-Kozhikode link is progressing. “The Rs 7.5-crore Kozhikode-Kannur-Mangalore link is awaiting the Railway Board’s nod.”

The ultimate aim of the railways is to set up a railway telecom corporation featuring a national OFC network. Once installed, the railway reservation system, now relying on DoT lines, will be made through this network.

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Another major achievement in the railway communication scenario is the setting up of 25W transmitter-receiver VHF units at all stations between Shornur and Mangalore. “Now drivers and guards can contact these stations and vice-versa from mid-sections. This also has been done keeping safety in view.”