SCR workshop for startups on Friday to find creative solutions to increase efficiency, security
SCR workshop for startups on Friday to find creative solutions to increase efficiency, security
South Central Railway (SCR)-Secunderabad Division Divisional Railway Manager AK Gupta on Tuesday said that it will organize the first workshop for potential startups to collaborate with Indian Railways with innovative solutions for around 11 problem areas identified in train operation across the country.
Around 40 potential startups have been identified for the workshop to be held on Friday at the DRM office to apprise them about the scheme launched by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav earlier this month.
“We have approached T-Hub, IIT-Hyderabad and engineering colleges. Small, medium scale and micro enterprises, individuals and even final year engineering students can come up with new, smart ideas to improve the functioning of Railways, which is a large organization with complex work modes,” They said.
Addressing a press conference with Additional DRM PBS Rathore at his office located at Santhan Bhawan, Mr. Gupta informed that there is no restriction on large firms to participate in the workshop but they will not be eligible for funding up to Rs. . 1.5 crore is being offered by the Railways.
“If the proposal is approved by a high-powered committee of the Railway Board, the funding for scaling up the model could go up to ₹3 crore,” he said.
If the technology is accepted and implemented, the Railways will support the startups for about three years and will pay 10 times the cost of making it and the government will keep the usage rights while the intellectual property rights will remain with the respective startups.
“Successful startups can share solutions in the market after taking necessary approvals from the Railways,” he added.
The Railway Board had received around 150 problems from across the country, out of which around 11 were shortlisted, however, out of the 10 suggestions sent by the SCR, none have received initial approval.
“Once the first lot of Smart Solutions of Startups are taken up sequentially, Railways can look at taking up the pending set of other problem areas,” the DRM said.
Interested startups or individual innovators can log on to the Ministry of Railways portal, check problem details and submit proposals (https://indianrailways.gov.in).
Once the technology solution is accepted, a presentation is made to the Railway Board panel, which will then be considered for proof of concept, extended testing and regular adoption, Mr Gupta said. The entire process will take around 75 days as there is a stipulated time frame for each stage like 30 days to apply and 15 days for technology evaluation before moving to the second stage of approval, testing and adoption within 24 months .
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager M. Basavaraj was also present.