RailTel is led by its CMD R.K Bahuguna, who has a vision to make the company offer telecom backend services to major private firms in the future. Bahuguna in an interaction with M. Rajendran tells Telecom was emerging as the new opportunity and he knew the telecom revolution was imminent and so he decided to take the lead. Excerpts:
Why did you join Railways after passing out from IIT Roorkee?
Our parents those days had one desire, the child should get a government job. I studied in Nainital and for people over there, appearing for exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for a government job was the ultimate objective.
You specialized in a subject that became hot only in early 1990’s.
It is a misnomer, since engineering was a passion. When I got selected for Railways, which was my first choice in UPSC, they saw my specialization and helped groom me in Signaling and Communications.
How?
Initially, to an engineering graduate it was a shock. We saw very basic use of signaling and communication in India, but then, it was also a fertile ground to create something in the sector. For example the local trains carry lakh of people in the morning for work and then back home in the evening on time to be back with the families. Signaling and Communication was critical and it was quite satisfying that we are making families meet in time.
You have been part of the telecom revolution in India.
I had spent about twenty years in Railways, and reached a senior position but realized that there is going to be a long period of plateauing in the service. I had to take a call, if I wanted to do more than that. Telecom was emerging as the new opportunity and I knew the telecom revolution was imminent and someone had to take a lead. RailTel gave me an opportunity and I took it.
Was it a challenge?
Indeed, not many in those days were willing to take a plunge into the unknown from a secured job like Railways. I had an opportunity to create something new in telecom, when Railtel was set up in 2001 and I was the second or perhaps third person to join it. In 2007 I had to make a choice, either to go back to Railways or resign and remain in RailTel. I decided on the latter. Since then, I have not looked back.
So how do you see Railways now?
A client, who will give money for the work we do. Now we are looking at other opportunities in the government and also hope explore the private sector. The National Knowledge Network concept was created by us. Andhra Pradesh is asking us to be the broadband company for providing the backhaul. Now, we have products for many customers, like banks, railways.