Indian Railways is taking a significant step towards embracing artificial intelligence (AI) by planning to establish a Railway AI Centre of Excellence. This center will serve as a hub for developing and implementing AI solutions to enhance railway operations, safety, and customer experience. The center's primary objective will be to create a strategic framework to address challenges related to data quality, legacy system integration, skilled AI professionals, and cybersecurity.
To achieve this, Indian Railways will draw on existing resources within the organization, such as the RDSO research and innovation business unit and CRIS, while also seeking support from independent bodies, universities, technology institutes, startups, and international rail technology partners. By leveraging AI technologies like machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics, the center aims to improve railway operations, asset management, and customer service.
Indian Railways has already started exploring AI applications, including partnering with BHASHINI to develop multilingual AI solutions for public-facing railway platforms. This initiative will enable citizens to access services in 22 Indian languages. Additionally, the railway has implemented Machine Vision-Based Inspection Systems (MVIS) to detect anomalies in trains and prevent accidents. These efforts demonstrate Indian Railways' commitment to harnessing AI to modernize its operations and improve services.
The establishment of the AI Centre of Excellence is a significant step towards transforming Indian Railways into a more efficient, safe, and customer-centric organization. By embracing AI and collaborating with various stakeholders, Indian Railways can leverage the potential of this technology to drive innovation and growth in the railway sector.
