New Delhi, Feb. 24 -- On November 4, 2024, India's rail network set a new benchmark as more than three crore people traveled in trains on one single day. Railways form the backbone of our growing economy, moving more than 8 billion passengers annually across a distance of about 70,000 km. The numbers are growing at an unprecedented pace. The country is bringing in newer, faster trains, developing a High-Speed Rail (HSR) system, and expanding Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) networks in major cities.

However, this increased demand brings critical challenges in ensuring reliability, efficiency and sustainability. Train networks need to run like clockwork, so that such volumes can be managed with efficiency. A major factor here is the effective mai...