Centres for Railway Research (CRRs)

Centres for Railway Research (CRRs) have been sanctioned at IIT/Kharagpur,

IIT/Roorkee, IIT/Madras and IIT/Kanpur and Mumbai University, to carry out research
works in various areas of interest related to Railway Technology. The primary objective
for setting of these CRRs is to develop a long‐term frame work for research
collaboration with leading technical educational institutions. This collaboration is
expected to enhance the future success of railways as a safe, fast, high capacity and
environmentally and customer friendly transport mode.
In order to achieve the above objectives, specific areas of research have been allotted
to individual CRRs so as to maximise the output and avoid duplication of efforts.
Following specific areas of research for each of the CRRs has been assigned by Board
office:
S. No. Area of Research Nodal CRR
1. Vehicle Dynamics, Heavy Haul & High Speed IIT/Kharagpur
Technology
2. Loco Research & Propulsion Technologies, Traction IIT/Kanpur
installation/ OHE
3. Track, Bridges and Structures IIT/Roorkee
4. Signalling & Communication, Condition Monitoring & IIT/Madras
Predictive Maintenance
5. Operation Research & Management, Financial Mumbai University
Management and Human Resources Management

(A) CRR at IIT/KGP: CRR at IIT/ KGP was sanctioned in 2010‐11 at the cost of Rs. 20.38
Crore for setting up of CRR work i.e. Permanent Building. Building of CRR at IIT/KGP
is completed & commissioned by IIT Kharagpur.
Status of projects undertaken under CRR IIT/KGP:
(a) Projects completed:

1. Creep and Warping (including gauge widening) analysis of hot running loco
wheels towards development of design guidelines against gauge widening
2. Suspension and Bogies Technology for High Speed Trains
3. Assessment of Various Strategies of Seating Arrangements for Indian Rail
Coaches from the Viewpoint of Occupants' Safety
 4. Development of Thermo‐mechanically Processed High Strength Bainitic Steel
Rails for Indian Railways
5. Development of Composition and Standardization of Properties of Composite
Brake Blocks for Application in Coaches of Indian Railways
6. Scientific Evaluation of High Voltage Insulator Conditions from Predictions of
Residual Life of Composite Insulators
7. Modelling and Validation of Interlocking for Railway Signalling Systems
8. Design and Development of An On‐board Intelligent Embedded Platform for
Detection of Weak Failure Modes and Prognosis of Severe Faults in Locomotives
(b) Project short closed:

1. Development of Provisions for Design of Steel Concrete Composite Railway

Bridges for Normal Speed and Special Provision for High Speed Passenger Traffic.
2. Development of Railway Bridge Health Monitoring System With Wireless Sensor
Networks
(c) On‐going works

SN Name Name of the work Sanct. Sancd. Exp. so far

of CRR year cost
1. IIT‐KGP Online monitoring system for 2012 261.56 235.8 lacs
OHE Traction Parameters lacs
2. IIT‐KGP Aerodynamic Design of Traction 2012 734.24 212.6lacs
Rolling Stock With Speed lacs
Potential of 250 Kmph
(Upgradeable to 350 Kmph)

(B) CRR at IIT/Kanpur, IIT/ Roorkee and IIT/Madras

The work "Setting up of four Centres for Railway Research on Indian Railways" was
sanctioned in WP 2015‐16 at the cost of Rs. 80 Crore with the approval of Hon'ble
MR. Rs. 20 Crore was sanctioned for each CRR at the time approval of the work.
MoUs were signed between Ministry of Railways and 03 IITs & Mumbai University
in 2015 for 03 years. These MoUs with 03 IITs had been renewed on 22.09.2020 for
another 03 years (06 years from date of signing of original MoUs i.e. 22.12.2015).
Current status:
1. Associate finance had vetted the amount of Rs. 3.48 Cr towards setting up of
CRRs at IITs (Rs 1 Cr for IIT/R, Rs 1 Cr for IIT/M, Rs 1 Cr for MU and Rs 48.97 lakhs
for IIT/K). Accordingly, amount of Rs 1 Crore each released to IIT/R, IIT/M & Rs.
48.97 lakhs to IIT/K in 2017‐18. Fund was not released to MU due to no
response.
2. A proposal has been received from RDSO regarding the work "Material
modification for the work 'Setting up of four Centres for Railway Research (CRR)
on IR' in Feb 2021.
3. This material modification proposal for the work "Setting up of four Centres for
Railway Research on Indian Railways" is for approval of two items i.e.
(i) Change in Original Cost of work from Rs. 80 Crore to Reduced cost Rs. 62.84
Crore.
(ii) Change in the nomenclature of the work due to change in scope of work.
The proposed nomenclature is "Setting up of Centres for Railway Research
on Indian Railways".

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