The Ministry of Railways has constituted an Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr Sam Pitroda on the usage of Information and Communication Technologies in the Railways.

The terms of reference of the Expert Committee are

1. Propose ways and means to use technology and innovations to improve security, safety, services, convenience, productivity, efficiency and growth

2. In particular, focus on Information and Communication Technologies related to Broad Band, internet and wireless to capitalize, identify and suggest road map and increase capacity on the available Fibre Optic Network infrastructure to create public private partnerships and programs to benefit Railways and help take ICT to the door steps in remote areas

3. Recommend ICT applications and methodologies to improve freight and track management substantially to increase revenue and reduce costs

4. Propose use of ICT to modernize stations, vendors, manufacturing, services, operations, maintenance, delivery, distribution etc

5. Identify new initiatives and mega projects for expansion and growth with focus on new technologies and innovations

6. Recommend ways to add value added services leading to generation of employment, training, agriculture, health and public services with a focus on rural, remote and backward areas

7. Suggest organizational and management reforms necessary to implement technology and innovation initiatives in a time bound manner to expedite implementation.

The Members of the committee are
1. Member Electrical, Railway Board
2. Managing Director/RailTel Corporation of India Ltd
3. Managing Director/Centre for Railway Information System
4. Mr Partha Mukhopadhyaya, Transport Economist
5. Member Secretary, Executive Director

The supporting secretariat associated with the Committee are
1. Mr SS Mathur general manager/Information Technology CRIS
2. Mr K Beji George director planning railway board
3. Mr MK Sinha director planning (Mechanical Engg.) of Railway Board