The IMechE already has a significant presence in India and in the past has had a strong involvement with Railway Industry in India. A need was felt to rekindle dormant interest and provide a range of benefits. The institution of Mechanical Engineers has a forward looking technical strategy, more international in outlook. With the strong history of association amongst Rail Engineers from the UK and India, opportunities for technical collaboration are anticipated with the IMechE acting as a conduit for such collaborations.
The Railway Division of IMechE has an excellent range of technical and professional activities in Britain. India with its railways and associated professional engineering community and the growth of its economy and national population is a major opportunity. Indian Railways have launched a major program on infrastructure spending and opened opportunity by way of foreign direct investment in manufacture of rolling stock. This will bring in latest and efficient technology and provide wide opportunity to engineering fraternity.
The Railway Division is one of the most active of the Institution’s industry-specific divisions and special interest groups. It organizes events both at Birdcage Walk in London and at seven regional centres in UK.
The institution is pleased to announce a further expansion of these activities through the setting up of a new Railway Division Centre in India to be based at Lucknow- the largest city of the state of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. Lucknow has been selected as the focus of the new centre because it is the location of Indian Railways Research, Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO). The extent and variety of railway engineering activity carried out within its surrounding geographical area is unique and this is undertaken by a greater number and concentration of railway engineers compared with anywhere else in India.
The Railway Division consists of members of all grades professionally involved in interested in the science and practice of railways engineering. It covers research, design, development, procurement, manufacture, operation and maintenance of traction, rolling stock, infrastructure plant and their sub-systems components, sophisticated production machinery, rapid transit and all forms of guided surface transport.
The first railway chair outside UK set up in India gives an unique opportunity to engineering fraternity to hone up their skills. The digital platform and host of technical activities will be a win-win situation for Rail Engineers. The Railway Division is very strongly linked into the UK and European Railway industry supply chain. The need for continuous self training and assimilation of technology which are evolving faster than we can grow was never greater then now. The railway division centre at Lucknow by virtue of its location can contribute in wide variety of activities:-
4- Experience, knowledge and practices sharing to promote railway engineering to the next technology generation.
Shri P.K.Agrawal, FIMechE recently retired Additional Member (Mechanical Engineering) of the Indian Railways Board has been appointed as the Chairman for the new centre. In a carrier spanning over 41 years he has held positions in RDSO, Workshops and production unit contributing in design and manufacture of rolling stock. He has piloted policy initiative and have implemented hard commercial and techno economic decisions with confidence and belief.
The first event for the Lucknow Centre in 2017 will be the presentation by the Railway Division. Chairman for London Richard East (Chief Engineer of Athis) entitled ‘Sustaining the Future’ during the work commencing 12 February 2017.
This will be followed by a program of other lectures and seminars open to both members and non-members of the institution.
It is hoped that the new centre can be catalyst for collaboration in Research & Development and other activities between railway engineers in India and UK.