Near Miss Near Madurai Sparks Call for Cyber Signalling in Rail
CEO of Railway Board Satish Kumar at IITF Pix credit X.com @RailMinIndia
Experts Urge Indian Railways to Adopt Indigenous Cyber Signalling System for Proactive Safety
By MANISH ANAND
NEW DELHI, July 2, 2025 – A potential tragedy was narrowly averted near Madurai after two trains ended up on the same track block section, triggering emergency protocols. Reports said that a prompt intervention by a Southern Railway section controller shut down the 25kV Overhead Electric (OHE) power supply to possibly avert a major accident. But the incident has once again raised urgent questions over the safety systems in Indian Railways, with experts calling for faster adoption of advanced, indigenous technologies.
Rao Ganapa, a former railway official, praised the controller’s quick action but emphasized the need for systemic solutions. “This was a lucky escape. But we cannot keep relying on last-minute heroics. Every loco pilot and guard should have real-time visibility of all trains within a 20-km radius,” he said in a post on LinkedIn. Pointing to “Cyber Signalling” – an indigenous innovation – Ganapa stressed that such technologies can equip drivers with comprehensive situational awareness, especially in signal failure scenarios. Reports said that the two trains were separated by 5 kms when the safety measure was taken.
Developed by an IISc-supported startup, the Cyber Signalling system is not a theoretical concept. Deployed since 2021 at the JSW Steel railway siding in Toranagallu (under Southwestern Railway), the system allows loco pilots to visualize the entire yard, including the presence and position of other trains. The technology has secured a patent and is being promoted as a scalable, export-ready solution.
Lalit Chandra Trivedi, former General Manager of Indian Railways, urged urgent nationwide deployment: “The sooner this Indian innovation is adopted pan-India, the better. It’s a classic case of Make in India with global potential. Let’s scale it and make Indian Railways safer and smarter.”
Lt Col Deepak Saxena, a railway health and safety consultant, echoed the sentiment. “We must move from reactive safety responses to proactive intelligence. Cyber Signalling is not an idea anymore – it’s a proven system ready to be adopted at scale.”
However, the incident has also sparked debate over how much information should be given to loco pilots. Rail expert R.S. Poonia cautioned against overwhelming drivers. “Loco pilots need precise, timely information – primarily the signalling aspect at the next station. Excessive dashboard data could actually distract rather than help,” he said.
Rajesh Patel, another rail systems expert, pointed out that while emergency and degraded operation protocols do exist within Indian Railways, their inconsistent implementation often leads to avoidable accidents. “Technology can enhance execution efficiency and ensure safer outcomes,” he said.
Ganapa also called for the development of Driver Assistant Systems, especially to support loco pilots during signal failures. “Signals do fail. In those moments, the driver is practically blind. Technology must bridge that gap,” he said.
The Madurai near miss has reignited the safety versus modernization debate within India’s vast rail network. While legacy systems and human oversight have helped avoid some disasters, experts agree that future safety lies in proactive, real-time intelligence – and homegrown innovations like Cyber Signalling may be key to that transformation.
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
