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Journalism of Courage
In a sudden move,the Indian Railways has scrapped its successful real-time train tracking system SIMRAN (Satellite Imaging for Rail Navigation) developed by IIT-Kanpur,and has decided to create a similar website on its own.
In a meeting of the Railway Board on September 11,attended by IIT-K officials,Railways said the institutes technology and services would not be required after September since CRIS,Railways IT arm,would create a separate real-time train tracking website.
IIT-Kanpur,following the sudden termination of their services,put up the message on the SIMRAN website: Due to non availability of funds from Indian Railways we are unable to maintain this site any further. SMS service is also closed.
At around 5 pm Wednesday,following a request by the the Railways,IIT-Kanpur replaced the message with: As per decision of Railway Board this site has been closed on 1/Oct/2012. SMS Service is also closed. User might use regular Indian Railways Enquiry Systems. Railway SMS Service No is 139.
Sources said Railway officials had asked the IIT to redirect users to its existing railway website,trainenquiry.com,but the institute refused. Unlike SIMRAN,trainenquiry.com,which predates SIMRAN,does not use satellite imagery.
A railway spokesperson said that the Railways always planned to run its own system since SIMRAN was a trial,which officially ended on September 30.
Sources said that the decision to remove IIT-Kanpur from the project was a sudden one since a section within the Railways has been lobbying to transfer the job to CRIS and Indian Railways Project Management Unit.
