With China rapidly improving its infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the armed forces with the cooperation of the Railways have taken a series of measures for faster mobilisation in case of any exigency. These include constructing ramps in critical railway stations in the North-East and increasing the speed of trains carrying troops and equipment.

The Railways has agreed to construct ramps at more than 15 railway stations in Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. These concrete ramps enable the Army to load the tanks, heavy guns and armoured vehicles on the rakes. Some of the junctions include New Misa Mari, Dimapur, Makung, Murkong Selec and Bhalak Pong.

Most of these stations are in the operational zone of 3 and 4 Corps of the Army guarding the eastern front facing China and need constant logistical support to match the vastly superior Chinese rail

infrastructure across the LAC. In fact, the eastern neighbour has built more than 5,000 km of rail network in the Tibetan plateau on its side connecting the mainland with this mountainous region. It also ensures logistical back up to the troops on the front, officials said here on Sunday.

Pointing out that the Railways has agreed to foot the bill for constructing ramps crucial for smooth

parking and taking down the heavy equipment like tanks, they said ramps will also get constructed at designated places on the western front facing Pakistan.

Apart from this, the Railways has already started trial runs to increase the speed of special Army trains carrying troops, heavy tanks and artillery guns. At present, these earmarked trains travel at speeds ranging from 30 to 35 km per hour.

Stressing the fact that the railways plays a major strategic role in the operational preparedness, officials said these special trains criss-cross the entire length and breadth of the country when troops along with the equipment have to move to field areas for firing practices. Moreover, in time of war, speed matters the most and faster train travel will ensure quicker deployment on the front thereby retaining the element of surprise.

Explaining the significance of the Railways role in the national effort, they said at present more than 800 special trains run every year and the Army reimburses more than Rs 2,000 crore per annum in this regard. In case of war, this rail movement will go up ten times, they said.

Amongst other steps to increase synergy between the railways and the armed forces, officials said the Railways has initiated online tracking of military trains like it does for the passenger trains. It means the local army commander can track the movement of these trains and take action accordingly.

Similarly, the Army owns 5,000 rail wagons and they are parked at various locations throughout the country. Till some weeks back, the local commanders had to locate the wagons manually and the railways has now listed them online for easier and faster tracking, they said.

Since troops move from one part of the country to another many times at short notice, the Army has proposed to the Railways to increase the quota of armed forces personnel in the passenger trains. The Railways is actively considering the proposal, they said.

Moreover, the Railways for the first time will send its probationary officers to forward locations all over the country to study the functioning of the armed forces in far-flung areas. This exposure will enable the officers to better appreciate the working conditions of the soldiers, they said.

Rail stations to be upgraded for quick Army transit to LAC