Indian Railways partners with Google to showcase Heritage Assets

Google which is a search engine giant now partnering with the Indian Railways and with collaboration showcase its heritage on digital platforms. Google has agreed to partner with Railways to digitise its heritage assets and help create a digital repository for universal online access free of cost, said a senior Railway Ministry official. Earlier it has released Google Cultural Institute for showcasing the cultures of the world.

The GCI which is a non-profit organisation that partners with cultural organisations to bring world’s cultural heritage online. The GCI builds online tools and offers them to institutions for showcasing and sharing cultural assets.

"Google will partner with the Railways to digitise its heritage assets and help create a digital repository for universal online access free of cost, said a senior Railway Ministry official."

Google which will showcase The Indian Railway’s huge list of heritage assets including

• Bridges

• Steam locos

• Buildings

• Artefacts

• Museums

An official said collaboration will not only make the NRM accessible online and offer virtual tours but also help digitise the national transporter’s entire heritage inventory which includes more than 20 museums, hundreds of steam locos, coaches, station buildings, bridges among others. Once the system is online it can be used to attract more tourist by Indian Railways.

Google earlier have tied up with the Indian railways to provide Free Wifi at Railway Stations which now extends to 10 Railway Stations. Soon which will be extended to more than 100 railway stations across the country.

The GCI generally works with government organisations and not for profit groups to provide digital collection management systems and storytelling tools free of cost. Various ministries and institutes of the government have already collaborated with the GCI to display and preserve India’s cultural heritage on digital platforms.

Indian Railway is preparing a comprehensive conservation management plan to preserve and promote its heritage assets. Besides, a dedicated rail heritage website under Railway Board’s website is operational for dissemination of information.