Page 13 - Technology Roadmap Transportation

PREAMBLE

Progress of a nation without transportation is unthinkable. Mobility is a basic
human right. Unless there is a good, safe, comfortable, efficient transport system
which causes the least damage to the environment, country will not be able to
move ahead in the global context. This report covers all modes of transport, viz.,
Road, Rail, Air and Water. Each sector, takes a stock of the developments that
have taken place in India since independence, brings out the technology gaps
between the developed nations and India and highlights the areas where we
need to concentrate in future to bridge the gap at a much faster pace than that
achieved in the past. The report also delves into “Blue Sky Research” in each
mode of transport. In today’s technological arena the word “impossible” has no
room; whatever thoughts just as pipe dream a few decades ago, has turned into
reality now. Latest example is of micro machines where a working automobile of
a dimension lesser than the thickness of hair has been achieved by scientists who
have been honoured by a Nobel Prize this year.

Integrated Transport Policy is need of the day. Need for intermodal cooperation
alone will be able to provide efficient transport to all. In the past, different modes
have been competing with each other leading to sub optimal solutions. Technology
Vision 2035 has provided an opportunity to give a holistic view of transport for
future covering all modes of transport. In some of the sectors like automobiles
and railways to some extent, our industry has progressed quite well in the design
activities while in waterways and airways, leaving aside the defence segment, we
are only involved in operational management. We, as a country, need to enter into
research, design and development and manufacturing activities in all the sectors.

The report is not an end in itself. We need to continuously look at the future and
keep on updating it periodically based on the new knowledge and technology
generated.

AUTOMOBILES

“Carriages without horses will go
And accidents fill the world with woe”

(Mother Shipton, circa 1530)

Unfortunately, presently we are facing this situation in India which was predicted
almost 500 years ago. Road transport which had a very small share in 50s, has
now outgrown all other modes of transport and has resulted in many problems
of safety, air quality, and sustainability. Many challenges are ahead of us to tackle all
these issues, escalated in the last three decades.

Road transport has been growing since 50s in a big way and especially had a
phenomenal growth over the last 3 decades when the first modern cars and
motorcycles entered the country. This has resulted into the problems of air quality,
safety and sustainability. India has been continuously bringing in regulatory emission
norms since the year 2000 and we are now looking forward to BS IV vehicles
throughout the country in 2017 and jumping to BS VI vehicles in 2020, skipping

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