New Delhi, July 24: Around 75,600 rail bridges on the Indian Railways are more than eighty years old, Lok Sabha was informed today. The railways has decided to modernise inspection and management systems, minister of state for Railways Bandaru Dattatraya said in a written reply.

Meanwhile, the government proposes to introduce high-speed coaches, capable of moving at 160 kms per hour, on some Rajdhani Express routes, he said. Indian railways has adopted technology from German company M/s Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) for manufacture of light weight, high-speed coaches which have extra-earning potential as they can carry more passengers per coach, give better ride comfort and have enhanced safety features, he said.

In a bid to augment its income, the railways is offering its sites, including rail coaches and other properties for displaying advertisements, the minister said adding that it made an ad revenue of around Rs 41.76 crore during 2001-02. The Konkan Railway Corp has decided to install an audio-visual pre-warning alarm device called "raksha dhaga" in all deep cuttings along the mountainous route, he said.

Bureau Report