In a moment of immense pride for Indian Railways and the city of Kanpur, a senior engineer's groundbreaking innovation has been recognized at the highest level. Rahul Tripathi, the Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer of Kanpur Electric Loco Shed, was conferred with the prestigious National Award in the field of new innovation in the transport sector.
Presidential Honour for Groundbreaking Work
The award was presented by President Draupadi Murmu and Union Minister of Power, Manohar Lal Khattar, at a grand ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Sunday. The event celebrated exceptional contributions to the nation's progress. Representing the North Central Railway Zone at the ceremony was Yatendra Kumar, the Principal Chief Electrical Engineer of the electrical department.
The Innovation That Saved Billions
The award recognizes Tripathi's revolutionary work that led to monumental savings for the Indian Railways. Through a detailed study conducted under an Industry Academia Collaboration between the Electric Loco Shed in Kanpur and IIT-Kanpur, Tripathi identified a key area for efficiency. His solution involved removing useless harmonic filters from old locomotive engines.
This seemingly technical change had a staggering financial impact. The innovation resulted in saving a colossal Rs 3,700 crore that was being spent on maintenance and electricity. This saving was achieved in a remarkably short span of just one and a quarter years, showcasing the immense potential of targeted engineering solutions.
Collaborative Effort and Official Approval
Detailing the process, Divisional Electrical Engineer Alok Mishra of the Electric Loco Shed explained that the initial testing for removing the filters was successfully conducted in collaboration with IIT-Kanpur back in 2023. Following the promising results, a comprehensive report was presented before the Railway Board.
"After receiving permission from all quarters, the Railway Board granted permission for its removal," stated Mishra, highlighting the systematic and approved approach taken to implement this cost-saving measure across the network.
This story is a powerful testament to how collaboration between public sector units and premier academic institutions like IIT-Kanpur can yield extraordinary results. Rahul Tripathi's award-winning innovation not only brings honour to Kanpur but also sets a benchmark for efficiency and smart engineering within the national transport infrastructure.
