Railways Urges Zones To Share Issues On Innovation Portal

25 Nov 2025 CW Team

The Railway Ministry has asked all its zones to share their operational challenges on the Indian Railways Innovation Portal, enabling start-ups, individual innovators, research institutes and MSMEs to develop breakthrough solutions. The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between the railways and India’s innovation ecosystem.

Launched in 2022 under the Startups for Railways programme, the portal has received strong participation over the past four years. According to a senior railway official, more than 4,043 entities have registered so far, including 416 start-ups, 2,655 individual innovators, 233 MSMEs, 213 R&D institutes, as well as NGOs and Section 8 companies.

These entities have proposed cutting-edge solutions in areas such as smart track inspection systems, fire and smoke detection for coaches, solar-powered LVPH coaches, lightweight wagons for salt transport, rail stress monitoring and broken rail detection, robotics, sensor-based alarms and e-seal systems for safer shunting and caution relaying.

Officials said that over 131 workshops and meetings have been held across railway zones and PSUs, with around 1,560 start-ups and innovators participating to discuss operational and safety-related issues.

Some of the innovations—particularly track inspection technologies enabling more accurate assessment, and rooftop solar systems using flexible PV panels on LVPH coaches—have already shown strong potential to enhance safety and environmental sustainability.

“We are working with partner firms to integrate these innovations into railway operations,” a railway official said.

Real Estate

11 Mar 2026

Kumar Corp Launches Plumeria Project In Bengaluru

Kumar Corp has launched Kumar Plumeria, a premium residential development near KIADB Aerospace Park in Bengaluru. The project comprises six residential towers offering 3.5 BHK, 3.5 BHK with staff and 4.5 BHK with staff residences designed with expansive balconies, natural ventilation and landscaped surroundings. The development features saleable areas ranging from about 2,680 sq. ft. to 3,070 sq. ft. and is planned as a low-density community with around 100 residences. The project integrates a landscape master plan that includes open green spaces, community zones and recreational amenities. ..

Blum India Launches Blum Club App

Blum India has introduced the Blum Club app, a loyalty platform designed for carpenters and contractors to recognise and reward their role in furniture installation and interior construction. The app allows users to scan QR codes on Blum product packaging to collect points linked to purchases. These points can be redeemed directly as monetary transfers to bank accounts through the platform’s redemption system. Neelam Shah, Head of Marketing and Communications at Blum India, said the initiative is aimed at recognising the contribution of craftsmen who install hardware products in residentia..

Enlight Metals Launches Waste Free Steel Procurement Model

Enlight Metals has introduced its Waste Free Steel (WFS) initiative, aimed at transforming steel procurement through precision-driven sourcing and advanced material planning. The programme seeks to reduce steel wastage by 8–10 per cent in infrastructure and EPC projects by shifting procurement practices from volume-based buying to drawing-based supply aligned with engineering requirements.The initiative is powered by Enlight Metals’ Agentic AI–enabled metal procurement platform, which enables project teams to submit technical drawings and material specifications for detailed analysis. Ba..