NEW DELHI, INDIA: India's railway freight management system is outdated and needs a massive technological upgrade, according to Knowledge Commission chairman Sam Pitroda.

"There is a huge potential of technological improvement in the Indian Railways, for example our freight management system is outdated, 10 years behind others," Pitroda said here Monday.

"The railways have mainly used the fibre optic network running over 60,000 km for telecom purposes over the last decade. It can also be used for ticketing, freight management and vendor services which require IT capabilities," Pitroda said on the sidelines of the International Railway Equipment Exhibition 2009.

The railway ministry is expected to invest $45.9 billion in the 11th Plan (2007-12) - triple the amount envisaged in the 10th Plan period (2002-07).

The plan outlay for 2009-10 alone envisages an investment of $7.6 billion. These investments will mainly be used for import of electric and diesel locomotives over the next three years, new corridors, and electric and diesel locomotive and coach factories.

©IANS