Meet Rakesh Khurana, a resident of 5171, whose significant contributions to Indian Railways have played a crucial role in enhancing India’s standing as a global powerhouse across diverse industries.
A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, Rakesh studied Electrical Engineering during his B. Tech and pursued a Masters in Computer Science at the same institute. His time at IIT not only equipped him with technical skills but also boosted his confidence in his abilities.
Rakesh’s career took a significant turn when he joined CMC Ltd and worked on modernizing the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) for Indian Railways. In the early 1980s, the reservation system was manual and struggled to handle the increasing number of passengers and trains.
There were long queues, inefficiencies, and problems with fraud. At CMC, Rakesh and his team introduced computerization, which streamlined the reservation process. This initiative made operations more efficient, saved costs, and improved passenger satisfaction.
Later, at the Centre For Railway Information Systems (CRIS), Rakesh integrated different PR systems across various zones into a single, nationwide network, and continues to benefit customers even today.
Looking to the future, Rakesh sees immense potential in integrating AI and advanced technologies into Indian Railways. These innovations could improve passenger experience, optimize fare management, and enhance operational efficiency.
Rakesh is currently involved with Motherson Group, where he has led their IT division on digital transformation initiatives for over two decades. He recently contributed as a consultant to modernizing the Next Gen Passenger Reservation System for Indian Railways.
Rakesh is a big advocate of ‘Make in India’ initiatives and was recently featured in the ‘100 Great IITians’ book, which recognizes the impact of his contributions. His message to young engineers and students is to aim high and think globally, encouraging them to develop world-class solutions that display India’s capabilities on the global stage.
On a personal note, Rakesh’s family is deeply involved in scientific and engineering fields. His wife works on defence projects, and his sons have careers in Computer Science. Outside of work, he enjoys playing table tennis and mentoring startup leaders.
Rakesh’s journey, from IIT to pioneering innovations at Indian Railways and beyond—has been driven by a passion for technology’s transformative power and a commitment to making a meaningful impact on society.
As India continues its digital transformation, Rakesh looks forward to contributing further to its technological advancement. Team Samvada wishes him luck for his future contributions!
