Prof. Narayan Rangaraj and PhD scholar Sachin Bodke from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) recently visited the Bhusawal and Nagpur Divisions of Central Railway on 17 and 18 September to understand rail freight operations, and explore opportunities to improve freight transportation of various commodities.
During the visit, the team met railway officials, including the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) and people in the offices of the Senior Divisional Operations Manager (SrDOM), and Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (SrDCM), to understand the operational, commercial, and planning aspects of freight movement within the division.
The visit also included field observations at vehicle loading sidings and coal unloading facilities serving thermal power plants in the Bhusawal region. In addition, the team visited railway control rooms to gain first-hand insight into train operations, traffic management, and the complex coordination required to manage freight and passenger movements in a rail network.
The interactions with railway officials and on-site observations provided valuable practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities in freight rail logistics. The insights gained will contribute to ongoing research on improving freight rail operations and transportation planning in Central Railway, India.
