Trimble Solutions India, a subsidiary of Nasdaq listed Trimble Inc, that has found a foothold in the rail-based market in India and has introduced several automated products, is looking for a bigger pie of the growing Indian market. It has recently launched a new suite of solutions that help in faster project construction. Rajan Aiyer, Managing Director, Trimble India and SAARC region, feels the company can help Indian Railways achieve its targets within time. Excerpts:

Who are Trimble’s rail-based customers in India?

While Trimble has just formally launched its railways portfolio in India, some of our products are already in use with several rail and metro projects across India.

Large construction companies had used Trimble’s GEDO trolley for Hyderabad and Chennai Metro Rail projects, for checking the parameters of track and to enhance the quality of track installation.

The GEDO trolley allows parameters to be checked at every inch of the track before it is fixed, unlike the conventional method of manual checking which is done at about 4 metres intervals. This augments the quality of track and minimises the corrections that would be required otherwise. Further, GEDO works as a computer-based system and on the design details that are fed into the system, thereby minimising human errors.

Trimble’s industry-leading construction modelling software Tekla Structures was used for design and construction of Chenab bridge in Kashmir, part of the new Baramulla−Srinagar−Udhamptur railway connection, which is the highest railway bridge of its type anywhere in the world.

How can you help the Railways attain its targets?

The Indian Railways is undergoing major transformation as it prepares to serve an ever growing population with high-speed, safe, comfortable and efficient transportation. Safety is one of the biggest priorities for the Indian Railways and Trimble’s portfolio of railways operations and monitoring solutions, as a key component of our asset management solution, allows railways to monitor track and wagon performance on a real-time basis and get real-time diagnostics, which can not only reduce downtime, but go a long way in preventing derailments that make up more than 50 per cent of all railway accidents in India. Our construction solutions, led by Tekla Structures, enables the construction of new structures including railway stations and bridges, on time and on budget, thus minimising delays and cost overruns.

Expectations from the railways ahead of the budget?

We believe Indian Railways is on its way to reinvent itself through modernisation and adoption of technology; and our only expectation from the railways ahead of the Budget is for setting aggressive targets for timely completion of ongoing modernisation and developmental initiatives.

We are very optimistic with the Railway Ministry’s vision for transformation and believe that their three key priorities — safety, comfort, and speed — will completely change the face of this important lifeline of India in the months and years to come.

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