Railways launch App-Based Monitoring for inoperative escalators at stations

To address the inconvenience caused by inoperative escalators, Indian Railways has introduced an app-based monitoring system. The move comes in response to the railway's internal survey, revealing an annual influx of 1.5 million complaints about malfunctioning escalators. Implemented as a pilot project in Central, Western, and Northern Railways, the app-based system enables efficient monitoring and swift repairs.

Efficient escalator monitoring

The app-based system is a response to approximately ten daily complaints about escalator issues. Rather than assigning individual operators to each escalator, the system focuses on non-functional assets, saving on manpower. The Mumbai Division of Central Railway has adopted a web and mobile app-based monitoring system to streamline escalator operations.

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This digital system provides minute-to-minute records of escalator functionality, generating warnings for overdue maintenance. The higher authorities can review performance through an executive summary, leading to cost reductions related to contractual operators. The dashboard offers a bird's-eye view, allowing a controller at the Centralised Control Room to monitor 100% of the division's escalators. The system utilizes visual cues on maps to indicate the working or non-working status of escalators at stations, using green or red signals. Additionally, audio and visual alarms alert controllers promptly when an escalator stops functioning.

Streamlining maintenance and enhancing passenger experience

By incorporating technology-driven monitoring, Indian Railways aims to streamline maintenance processes, ensuring escalators are operational promptly to enhance passenger experience and avoid crowding at platforms. The system is poised to be a significant advancement in optimizing escalator functionality across railway zones.

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